Exploring W.H. Auden: Power, War, and Poetry

This blog is written as a task assigned by the head of the Department of English (MKBU), Prof. Dilip Barad. Here is the link to the professor's blog for background reading: Click here.

Part 1: Understanding Difficult Couplets

While reading "Epitaph on a Tyrant," I found the final two lines particularly striking. Following the worksheet instructions, I asked an AI assistant (ChatGPT) to help me unpack this difficult couplet:

"When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter,
And when he cried the little children died in the streets."

My Insight & AI Explanation: This chilling couplet perfectly captures the absolute, terrifying power of a dictator. The first line highlights the sycophancy and moral cowardice of political institutions; the "respectable senators" laugh not because the tyrant is funny, but out of fear and a desperate need to appease him. The second line shifts abruptly to the horrific real-world consequences of his moods. His "tears" (personal grievances or petty angers) translate directly into brutal, arbitrary violence against the most innocent. Historically, this reflects the 1930s rise of totalitarian figures, whose personal whims possessed the unchecked power to slaughter millions.

Part 2: Analyzing Themes and Messages

1. What is the main theme of Epitaph on a Tyrant?

The main theme is the terrifying absolute power of totalitarian dictators. It highlights how their pursuit of "perfection" relies on manipulating human weakness, demanding sycophancy, and inflicting brutal violence.

2. What is the central theme of September 1, 1939?

The central theme of "September 1, 1939" is overwhelming dread and disillusionment at WWII's outbreak. It reflects a global climate of fear, totalitarianism, and collapsing peaceful democratic ideals.

3. What message does Auden convey in In Memory of W.B. Yeats?

In "In Memory of W.B. Yeats," Auden conveys that while poets die with human flaws, their art endures. Poetry survives as a healing, unifying human voice across future generations.

Part 3: Writing a Contemporary Poem

Reflecting on the political and social climate of today—where power is often wielded through digital surveillance, algorithms, and media manipulation—I wrote this contemporary version of Auden's poem, capturing the current zeitgeist.

Epitaph on a Modern Leader

Efficiency, he claimed, was his ultimate goal,
And the algorithms he wrote were simple to digest;
He knew our digital fears beating in every chest,
And was deeply invested in firewalls and screens;
When he smiled, the pundits nodded and played their role,
And when he frowned, the drones leveled the distant ravines.

Part 4: The Echoes of a Low Dishonest Decade

An Analysis of "September 1, 1939" Using ChatGPT

Following the instructions in Worksheet 2, after studying Prof. Barad's blog, I used ChatGPT to prompt specific questions about Auden’s "September 1, 1939." The AI generated fascinating insights regarding the imagery, structure, and historical weight of the poem, which I have synthesized into the following analysis.

Sitting in a "dive" on Fifty-second Street, Auden penned this poem as the world stood on the precipice of World War II. It serves as a profound meditation on the outbreak of global conflict, reflecting his deep disillusionment with the political and social climate of the 1930s. The primary themes revolve around fear, isolation, the cyclical nature of human violence, and the desperate need for human connection, famously encapsulated in the plea: "We must love one another or die."

Auden’s masterful use of language grounds the poem's lofty political themes in harsh, modern realities. Through my exploration with ChatGPT, I gained a deeper appreciation for how Auden contrasts the intimate, dimly lit bar with the macrocosm of a world plunging into darkness. The AI highlighted his striking description of New York's "blind skyscrapers," which use their sheer height to project "the strength of Collective Man." This imagery critiques capitalist hubris and the illusion of isolationism, suggesting that these towering structures are completely oblivious to the impending European doom. Structurally, the poem’s tightly controlled, eleven-line stanzas with an irregular meter create a conversational intimacy mixed with underlying anxiety, mirroring the speaker's turbulent state of mind.

The historical context is inescapable. Written on the exact day Hitler invaded Poland, the poem captures the death of what Auden bitterly dubs a "low dishonest decade." He traces the roots of totalitarian aggression back through history, referencing "Linz" (Hitler's hometown) and the cultural psychopathology of a nation that produced such a dictator. He recognizes the universal human flaw of selfishness—"Those to whom evil is done / Do evil in return"—making this new war feel tragic, yet deeply inevitable.

Using ChatGPT allowed me to see beyond the immediate historical references and tap into the poem's psychological depth. The AI pointed out how Auden moves seamlessly from global political critique to an examination of individual responsibility. We are all, as the poem suggests, "children afraid of the night / Who have never been happy or good." This insight helped me realize that Auden is not just blaming dictators; he is diagnosing a universal condition of human ego and isolation.

Classroom Worksheet 

Conclusion

By using ChatGPT to analyze Auden's poem "September 1, 1939," I have gained a deeper understanding of the poem's themes, language, and historical context. I have also developed my skills in literary analysis and interpretation, which will serve me well in my future studies of literature.

References

Auden, W. H. “Epitaph on a Tyrant.” Poets.org, 1940, poets.org/poem/epitaph-tyrant. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

---. “In Memory of W. B. Yeats.” Poets.org, 1939, poets.org/poem/memory-w-b-yeats. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

---. “September 1, 1939.” Poets.org, 1939, poets.org/poem/september-1-1939. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Barad, Dilip. “Epitaph on a Tyrant | W H Auden | 2021 05 05 | Sem 2 Hybrid Classes.” YouTube, uploaded by DoE-MKBU, 5 May 2012, youtu.be/ZnqPB0mjoq8. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

---. “In Memory of W.B. Yeats | W.H. Auden | Sem 2: Hybrid Classes | 2021 05 07.” YouTube, uploaded by DoE-MKBU, 7 May 2021, youtu.be/L-85uCBN0SI. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

---. “September 1 1939 | W H Auden | Sem 2 Hybrid Classes 2021 05 06.” YouTube, uploaded by DoE-MKBU, 6 May 2021, youtu.be/VmGlS-ZT8MU. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

---. “W.H. Auden’s Poems.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 22 May 2021, blog.dilipbarad.com/2021/05/wh-auden-poems.html. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.