On The Art Of Light Verse By W.H.Auden

Wystan Hugh Auden（1907-1973）is one of the greatest poets after T.S.Eliot in the 20^thcentury who has been acclaimed for his craftsmanship of poetry,especially his prosodic exploration and experiment of poetic forms.Auden has a penchant for light verse,so he edits anthology of light verse,comments on light verse and writes a massive light verse among his canon.In terms of light verse,it is one of the literary forms ranging from ballads,nursery rhymes,limericks,vers de societe to epigrams with characteristics of strict rule patterns,profound thought and diversified forms.Light verse features Auden’s poetry writing.This thesis attempts to probe into Auden’s techniques of images,presentation of themes and features of style in his light verse through close reading.It aims to figure out his aesthetic inclination of light verse and his writing techniques and artistic features.Employing unique techniques of images,Auden creatively integrates images from traditional light verse with those from modern discourse and paintings.To some extent,images in Auden’s light verse are ingrained with some features of traditional light verse,which becomes indispensable part of“Audenesque”style.Thematically,Auden’s light verse mainly inquires into love and suffering.His love ballad uncovers the uncertainty of love and the betrayal of love.Suffering is another theme Auden exerts efforts to explore in his light verse,the crisis in politics and society and mental predicament under the social discipline in the industrialized society.In terms of style,Auden elaborately conforms to his standard for a“light and adult”light verse:simple,clear and gay.The language of Auden’s light verse is colloquial and dialogic,and prose style is projected in his later poetry.Besides,Auden carries on prosodic experiment and practices on variant cadence and abundant forms to comply with the meaning.Auden’s humor consummates in his light verse in which he always jokes and ridicules.And in Auden’s old age,the lightness transferred into carnival because of bold diction,bitter self-mockery and frivolity.Through a comprehensive study of Auden’s light verse,the thesis comes to the conclusion that Auden is an illustrious master in light verse for his unique technical use of images,profound presentation of themes and his command of style.