Auden, a barbarian
Auden in his plain but ironic language compares himself to a barbarian for his incapacity to converse in Latin. As a professor of poetry he should give some lectures on the classical tongue but his lack of fluency somehow makes him to admit it in a humorous manner.
Inner Examiner
Inner examiner or conscience always examines the day to day thoughts and actions. Auden remarks Wordsworth's inner examiner should have guided him to be rational while he was writing his famous poem on the cuckoo. Here Auden compares Wordsworth's rationality to the inner examiner.
Fragment of a Dream
While giving a critical representation of Coleridge's 'Kubla Khan', Auden refers to the poet's statement regarding the poem. Coleridge compares his poem to a fragment of his dream. In this way the poet metaphorically associates his dream to a book and his poem to a chapter of the dream.
Literary Gift
A literary gift is none other than poetic inspiration. According to Auden, the youth of his age lacks the spirit and mental framework of a poet. Without that poetic talent it is somehow impossible to be a influential poet or writer.
"highly paid subliterary pursuit like Advertising"
In one his essays, Auden compares the profession of an advertiser to a well paid "subliterary pursuit". Subliterary means lower than the position and importance of literature. An advertiser is always in the mood of selling something; in the case of a writer or an artist, it is the value which the person tries to provide to the readers. Auden is referring to this point by using this ironic simile.
