In W.H. Auden’s poem “O Where are You Going?” from Book III of the English course for first-year students, the poet masterfully weaves a narrative of uncertainty and foreboding. The poem revolves around a conversation between different characters, each expressing their concerns and fears about a perilous journey. The reader questions the rider about their destination, warning of danger in a valley where furnaces burn, a midden that emanates maddening odors, and a grave where the tall eventually return.
The fearer seeks assurance that dusk won’t hinder their progress, while the farer is unsure if diligent searching will reveal what’s missing on their path from granite to grass. The horror-stricken hearer observes eerie shapes in twisted trees and an approaching figure, invoking a sense of impending doom. The poem’s chilling atmosphere and enigmatic dialogue leave readers contemplating the uncertainties of life’s journey and the lurking threats that may lie ahead.