For the Time Being facts for kids
First edition, published by Random House
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| Author | W. H. Auden |
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| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1944 |
For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio is a long poem by W. H. Auden. He wrote it in 1941 and 1942. The poem was first published in 1944. It was part of a book also called For the Time Being. Another long poem, "The Sea and the Mirror," was in the same book.
Contents
Exploring For the Time Being
This poem tells the Christmas story in a special way. It uses different characters from the story. Each character speaks their own thoughts, like in a dramatic monologue. This means you hear the story from many points of view.
Modern Twist on a Classic Story
The characters in the poem use modern language. This makes the old Christmas story feel new. The events happen as if they were taking place today. This helps readers connect with the story in a fresh way.
Music and the Poem
Auden hoped that Benjamin Britten would set his poem to music. An "oratorio" is usually a large musical work. However, the poem was too long for this purpose. Britten only used small parts of it for music. One part, "Shepherd's Carol," was even removed by Auden later. In 1952, the BBC radio broadcast the poem. It included music by Mátyás Seiber.
A Special Dedication
Auden dedicated For the Time Being to his mother. Her name was Constance Rosalie Bicknell Auden. This shows how important she was to him.
