W. H. Auden: Poems

What incident in the Icarus legend is depicted in Breughel’s painting and alluded to by the speaker in the poem?

What incident in the Icarus legend is depicted in Breughel’s painting and alluded to by the speaker in the poem?

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The painting depicts the end of the myth of Daedalus and his son Icarus told by Ovid. In the myth the two make wings for themselves in order to escape imprisonment. Unfortunately, Icarus flies too close to the sun, causing his wongs to melt, and sending Icarus to his death as he plunges into the sea.