Question

Read these lines from "Musee des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden:

"in Brueghel's Icarus, for instance, how everything turns away quite leisurely from the disaster"

How does the reference to Brueghel affect the meaning of the poem?

A. It adds humor to the poem.
B. It emphasizes the significance of the disaster.
C. It makes the poem more difficult to understand.
D. It has no impact on the poem's meaning.

Answer 1

The reference to Brueghel in the poem 'Musee des Beaux Arts' emphasizes the significance of the disaster and how it is overlooked by others. It suggests that tragedy often goes unnoticed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reference to Brueghel in W.H. Auden's poem 'Musee des Beaux Arts' emphasizes the significance of the disaster. It suggests that the world continues on, indifferent to and unaffected by tragic events. The mention of Brueghel's painting of Icarus, in which everything turns away from the disaster leisurely, highlights the idea that tragedy is often overlooked or disregarded by others.