September 1, 1939 Questions and Answers
September 1, 1939
How is personification used in the poem "September 1, 1939"?
In "September 1, 1939," Auden uses personification to imbue abstract concepts and inanimate objects with human traits. For example, "clever hopes expire" gives hope the human ability to die, and "the...
September 1, 1939
What point is the narrator trying to make in W.H. Auden's poem "September 1, 1939"?
In "September 1, 1939," the narrator reflects on the pervasive mood of fear and violence at the onset of World War II, suggesting that evil begets evil. Auden explores the philosophical futility of...
September 1, 1939
How does "September 1, 1939" present political power manipulation and human nature?
The poem "September 1, 1939" illustrates political power manipulation through Hitler's deceptive strategies and broken promises, such as the non-aggression pacts with Poland and the Soviet Union. It...