Advertising
Auden says that the youth of his age should follow, "some highly paid subliterary pursuit like Advertising". In this way, the essayist ironically lashes out at the advertisers who try to incorporate literary ideas to sell their products. In fact, they give value to literature as long as the art provides value for them, in the form that sells.
The Younger Generation
Auden ironically remarks, "It is astonishing how many young people of both sexes, when asked what they want to do in life, give neither a sensible answer like "I want to be a lawyer, an innkeeper, a farmer" nor a romantic answer like "I want to be an explorer, a racing motorist, a missionary, President of the United States." A surprisingly large number say "I want to be a writer, and by writing they mean "creative" writing." In this way Auden points out the hollowness and irrationality of his age.
Professor of Poetry
Auden's irony must have hurt the poets and critics of his age, but his idea is worth mentioning. He says that without knowing the importance of criticism, critics hold the "chair" and pass their time without giving something to the reading public and above all to literature. They praise the persons in power and compose some romantic verses to please them. Their power worshipping has made them to forget their responsibilities. The essayist mentions it ironically in his essay, "Making, Knowing and Judging".
A Joke in 'Punch'
Auden refers to a joke published in the 'Punch', regarding the poem of Wordsworth. It is an ironic representation of the irrational aspects of Romantic poetry. He gives clarification of the line of Wordsworth's poem, "O cuckoo shall I call thee bird /Or but a wandering voice?" and says, "It has an answer and if Wordsworth had put the question to himself instead of to the reader, he would have, deleted bird as redundant. His inner examiner must have been asleep at the time."
"You have chosen a barbarian"
Through this line, the essayist is not projecting himself as a barbarian but it is rather an irony. He is referring to himself as a barbarian in the so called "snobbish literary circle". The contemporary critics of his time were a showy class without having the quality of an ideal critic. Auden like a barbarian doesn't have any intention to imitate them. He is happy with his independent ideology instead of being driven by the popular taste. He is there to rectify the age not to play a mere puppet at the hands of those in high status.
