Practise exam-oriented questions from The Unknown Citizen by W. H. Auden, including objective questions, short answers, long answers, and essays with hints to strengthen your understanding and examination preparation.
Fill in the Blanks
Answer the following questions by choosing the correct option.
Each question carries 1 score.
๐ฃ Question 1. The marble monument was erected by the __________. (1)
(State / Bureau of Statistics / Union)
๐ต Question 2. The Unknown Citizen worked in a __________ until he retired. (1)
(factory / bank / school)
๐ข Question 3. The Unknown Citizen paid his dues to the __________. (1)
(company / union / government)
๐ Question 4. According to the Press, he bought a __________ every day. (1)
(newspaper / magazine / novel)
๐ก Question 5. Policies taken out in his name proved that he was fully __________. (1)
(educated / insured / employed)
๐ด Question 6. The Unknown Citizen had __________ children. (1)
(three / four / five)
๐ฃ Question 7. The Unknown Citizen possessed a radio, a car, a refrigerator and a __________. (1)
(television / phonograph / computer)
๐ต Question 8. The Unknown Citizen always held the proper opinions for the time of __________. (1)
(the year / the century / the nation)
๐ข Question 9. The specialist who approved the number of children is called a __________. (1)
(psychologist / eugenist / sociologist)
๐ Question 10. The speaker calls the questions "Was he free? Was he happy?" __________. (1)
(absurd / meaningful / important)
Four-Score Questions
Answer the following questions in about 60 words.
Each question carries 4 scores.
Question 1. Why is the citizen called "The Unknown Citizen"? (4)
Question 2. Describe the life of the Unknown Citizen as presented in the poem. (4)
Question 3. Explain the irony in the last two lines of the poem. (4)
Question 4. How does the poem criticize modern bureaucracy? (4)
Question 5. Why is The Unknown Citizen considered a satirical poem? (4)
Six-Score Questions
Answer the following questions in about 100 words.
Each question carries 6 scores. Use the hints given below.
Question 1. Explain how different agencies judged the Unknown Citizen. (6)
Hints:
(Bureau of Statistics – employer – trade union – Press – Public Opinion – teachers – ideal citizen.)
Question 2. Explain how the Unknown Citizen represents the modern common man. (6)
Hints:
(Ordinary citizen – obedient worker – law-abiding – consumer – follows public opinion – no individuality.)
Question 3. Discuss the theme of individuality in the poem. (6)
Hints:
(Code number – loss of identity – official records – conformity – freedom – individuality.)
Question 4. Explain Auden's criticism of materialism in the poem. (6)
Hints:
(Modern comforts – insurance – consumer society – material success – inner happiness ignored – satire.)
Question 5. Explain the significance of the title The Unknown Citizen. (6)
Hints:
(Ironical title – code number – anonymous identity – government records – symbolic meaning – central message.)
Essay Questions
Answer the following questions in not less than 150 words.
Each question carries 8 scores. Use the hints given below.
Question 1. "The Unknown Citizen is a satire on the modern welfare state." Discuss. (8)
Hints:
(Bureaucracy – government agencies – statistics – conformity – consumerism – loss of individuality – irony – message.)
Question 2. Analyse how W. H. Auden presents the conflict between individuality and conformity in the poem. (8)
Hints:
(Code number – official reports – ideal citizen – independent thinking – freedom – happiness – conformity – criticism.)
Question 3. "The Unknown Citizen is known to everyone except himself." Discuss. (8)
Hints:
(Official records – government reports – external achievements – inner life ignored – happiness – freedom – irony – central idea.)
Question 4. Critically appreciate The Unknown Citizen as a modern satirical poem. (8)
Hints:
(Title – theme – satire – irony – symbolism – language – ending – relevance.)
Question 5. Explain the relevance of The Unknown Citizen in today's digital society. (8)
Hints:
(Data collection – surveillance – digital identity – consumer culture – social media – privacy – individuality – contemporary relevance.)