Which element from auden's "musée des beaux arts" represents human suffering? a. the drowning of icarus b. a saint's martyrdom c. the torturer's horse d. a miracle birth

A. The drowning of Icarus.

Explanation:

Wystan Hugh Auden's poem "Musée des Beaux Arts" shows the indifference of people in general about the sufferings of others. Auden based his poem from three different sources- Bruegel's "The Census at Bethlehem", Pieter Bruegel the Younger's "The Massacre of the Innocents" and "Landscape of the Fall of Icarus" by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

The theme/ element of human suffering is represented by the fall of Icarus, mentioned in the end of the poem. The indifference of the people around shows how humans in general are not concerned about the suffering of others as long as it doesn't concern themselves. Likewise, in the poem, Icarus was seen to be drowning but "everything turns away  / Quite leisurely from the disaster". The ploughman continue his work, the sun continues shining and the ship kept on sailing, as if the fall of Icarus was no big deal.

the answer is c. the wind