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Topic: I need help finding a poem with a certain theme!

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1

jessica-155

I need to find a poem of literary merit with the theme of society, and social hierarcy's, class, etc. and being comforted by it or okay with society.

I am comparing the poem with a section of the book 1984 by George Orwell- the part where he's reading the book to be exact. I found a lot of references to classes, society, etc. in the book Winston read.

2

I am not sure exactly what you mean by being "okay" with society.  There is a song called "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds that mocks the develpment of suburbia and how everyone is the same in their little "ticky tacky" boxes.

3

shannonsuddath

Unknown Citizen by Auden should work nicely with 1984.  "Invictus" by Henley is also another option or "Lift Not the Painted Veil" by Shelley.

4

How about "Richard Cory", by Edward Arlington Robinson? Cory is seemingly at the top of his social hierarcy, but it doesn't seem to bring him any happiness.

5

A couple of poems that really deal with social class, especially from the point of view of the lower classes struggling to overcome obstacles and make something of themselves, are "The Rose that Grew from Concrete" and "Liberty Needs Glasses" by Tupac Shakur.  The first one is quite autobiographical, in that it speaks to his journey to become successful despite where he came from.  The second is more of social commentary, and deals with the reality of living in the greatest nation on earth.

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