Question

How are Williams's "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" and Auden's "Musée des Beaux Arts" different?

1) Both poems discuss the large city in the distance.
2) Both poems explore the theme of human suffering.
3) Both poems use vivid imagery to depict nature.
4) Both poems reference Greek mythology.

Answer 1

The poems 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by William Williams and 'Musée des Beaux Arts' by W.H. Auden are different in terms of their settings, themes, use of imagery, and treatment of the subject of Greek mythology.

Step-by-step explanation:

The poems "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" by William Williams and "Musée des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden are different in several ways:

1. Different settings: While both poems mention a large city in the distance, Williams's poem focuses on the landscape and nature, while Auden's poem is set in a museum and references various artworks.
2. Different themes: While both poems touch on human suffering, Williams's poem explores the theme of ambition and the consequences of overreaching, as depicted in the story of Icarus, while Auden's poem examines the nature of human indifference and how suffering often goes unnoticed amidst daily life.
3. Different use of imagery: Williams's poem uses vivid imagery to depict the natural world, focusing on visual details such as flowers and farm labor, while Auden's poem uses imagery related to art and mythology, referencing paintings and Greek mythology.
4. Different treatment of the subject: Williams's poem directly references the myth of Icarus and his fall, while Auden's poem indirectly references the myth of Icarus through allusions to the painting "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.