The first time I read the poem "Musee des Beaux Arts", by W.H. Auden, I was under the impression that the poem was a simple interpretation of a painting. In order to fully grasp the significance of the poem, I suggest that one become familiar with the history behind not only the myth of Icarus, but also Pieter Brueghel the Elder's painting, "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus". A thorough background allowed me to …showed first 75 words of 885 total…

…showed last 75 words of 885 total…world, but also his resignation that the world will never change. However, the literary value of the poem is lost without a personal analysis of Brueghel's painting as a guide. NOTE: I found much of this interpretation on the internet. Who could think of this stuff? It is not word for word, but I would still reword some things (reluctance to acknowldge or sympathize with suffering, tiny pair of white legs in the turquoise water)