The stimulus for a poet’s work is provided by their place in society, in the environment and in the scheme of contemporary literature. The poet may experience beauty, be compelled to challenge an injustice or reflect on personal experiences. As they live their life and become increasingly exposed to these stimuli, they respond by writing poetry. In the case of W.H. Auden, an astonishingly diverse array of works is representative of an extensive …showed first 75 words of 1009 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1009 total…had a cool, ironic wit, yet was deeply religious. He was concerned to a greater degree than Eliot, however, with social problems. Possessed of probing psychological insight, Auden also had a supremely lyric gift. Auden's influence on the succeeding generation of poets was immense. Many critics consider Auden a master of verse; his intellectual rigor and social conscience combined with his fluid mix of styles and expert craftsmanship makes him a model of modern poetics.