The Unknown One by Pablo Neruda

Name: The Unknown One
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem explores the theme of identity and the search for self-knowledge. It delves into the speaker's inner world, exploring their emotions, desires, and fears. The use of metaphor and symbolism creates a dreamlike atmosphere, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. The speaker's introspection is marked by a sense of disconnection and fragmentation, as they struggle to reconcile their disparate selves.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1954 · Genre: Poetry, Existentialism, Literary Fiction · 107 words

First lines

I want to measure the many things I don't know and that's how I arrive aimlessly, I knock and they open, I enter and see yesterday's pictures on the walls, the dining room of the man and the woman, armchairs, beds, saltcellars.

Only then do I understand that there they don't know me.

I go out and I don't know what streets I'm walking, nor how many men this street has eaten up, nor how many poor and tantalizing women, workers of various breeds and far from satisfactory rewards.

What this Textopian page supports

The Unknown One is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1954 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Pablo Neruda
Date: 1954 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Existentialism, Literary Fiction, Surrealism, Social Commentary
Length: 107 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is characterized by its lyrical style and exploration of emotions, typical of Neruda's poetic form.
Existentialism — The themes of identity, knowledge, and the search for meaning reflect existentialist concerns.
Literary Fiction — The narrative delves into complex human experiences and societal observations, aligning with literary fiction.
Surrealism — The dreamlike quality and abstract reflections on reality suggest elements of surrealism.