What is different about the poem “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” and the
Brueghel painting on which it is based?
A. The poem explains that the wings had melted, but the painting
does not show this.
B. The painting includes realistic details but the poem does not.
C. The painting creates a calm environment, but the poem does not.
D. The poem mentions that Icarus drowned, but the painting does
not
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. The painting creates a calm environment, but the poem does not.
The poem “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” by W. H. Auden and the Brueghel painting both depict the myth of Icarus, whose wings melt as he flies too close to the sun, causing him to fall into the sea and drown. However, there are notable differences between how the two works treat the myth and the atmosphere they create.
- The painting’s calm environment: In Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s painting, the focus is on a serene, rural scene. While Icarus is falling from the sky, the figures in the foreground—such as a farmer plowing his field and a ship sailing on the horizon—remain oblivious to his plight. The muted tones and peaceful activities suggest a calm, almost indifferent world. The tragic event of Icarus’ fall is relegated to the background, barely noticeable amidst the everyday life depicted.
- The poem’s tone: Auden’s poem, on the other hand, emphasizes the indifference of the world to individual suffering and tragedy. The tone is less calm and more reflective, with lines that question the significance of Icarus’ death against the backdrop of human concerns. Auden does not describe the landscape as tranquil. Instead, the poem explores the existential theme of how the world carries on regardless of personal tragedies. The poem also includes a commentary on how human suffering often goes unnoticed amidst the mundane.
- Contrast in focus: While both the painting and the poem reference Icarus’ fall, the poem’s focus is on the way human beings are consumed by their routines and concerns, to the extent that the death of Icarus is scarcely acknowledged. This contrasts with the calm setting of the painting, which, while it does show Icarus’ fall, does so in the context of a peaceful, idyllic world where life moves forward without interruption.
In summary, the main difference is that the poem creates a more reflective, somber mood, contrasting with the calm, almost indifferent environment depicted in Bruegel’s painting. Auden emphasizes the insignificance of Icarus’ fate in the grand scheme of life, while the painting simply shows a scene where such tragedies go unnoticed.