Question #1—“Sirens”
2000—AP English:
Literature & Composition
Sample M
Both Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song” and the passage from Homer’s Odyssey deal with Sirens. While Homer’s passage is very serious Atwood’s poem is more humorous.
Odysseus, one of the greatest heroes ever in literature, barely survives his meeting with the Sirens. Odysseus has heard of the Sirens and does not underestimate them. He realizes the danger he is in. The passage is very dramatic because Homer also knows the danger his hero is in. To heighten the sense of adventure Homer uses phrases like “a sharp sword,” “my two strong hands” and “Helios’ burning rays.” The ship itself is “racing past.”
In Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song” the narrator is a Siren. She writes that its not much fun being a Siren. “Siren Song” is a much lighter piece the Homer’s passage. Various phrases, such as “will you get me out of this bird suit?” “Squatting on this island” and “feathery maniacs” instill a sense of humour into the poem. The narrator has a nonchalant almost bored tone. The Siren changes subjects at will. The first four stanzas the Siren builds up the curiosity of the reader. The reader wants to know the song, but in the fifth and sixth stanzas the Siren starts complaining. Just as suddenly the subject changes back to the song in the seventh stanza. At the end the Siren writes that it is a boring Song and sounds bored herself when she writes “Alas.”
Both pieces agree that flattery is a dangerous weapon. The Siren’s in Homer’s passage call the hero “famous Odysseus—Achaen’s pride and glory.” Odysseus’ heart “throbbed to listen longer” and if not for his crew he would have. In “Siren Song” the Siren writes that only the subject can help, another case of flattery. The word “you” is used six times in two stanzas. It is repeated so often to flatter the subject, and according to the subject it “words every time.”
Both pieces agree that Siren’s are dangerous flatterers. Homer does this when he writes about Odysseus’ adventure in a dramatic way and Atwood does this through the Siren’s eyes in a more humorous way.
Sample A
In a world where women have been denied their ability to work honestly and have been boxed into complacent sterotypes, their only power—according to society—is their power to seduce through flattery & sexuality. In Homers description of the Siren’s song, Odyseus reacts with a masculine arrogance, touting his own strength to escape seduction while landing his crew for their loyalty. His voice is somewhat heroic & grandios as he relays a first-hand account of a dramatic brush with death, but through his self-congratulating manner, he reveals his limited understanding of men and women. It is this limited understanding and hubris emmanating from society that provokes Margret Atwood to write her poem of protest ‘Siren’s Song’. Through allusion to classical beliefs she illuminates her own frustration at being confined to a stereotype & through repetion she plays upon the unfounded pride of Men like Odyseus.
Odyseus is immersed in a sweaty, masculine world of heraldry that is condusive to his sense of self-importance. He begins his speech with a vaguely violent sexual image. He states “with a sharp sword I sliced an ample wheel of beeswax/ down into pieces” (3-4). Here a phalic object, the sword, cuts up a piece of wax that is soft and round, a distinctly feminine image. The imagery itself suggests a dominence over women within this sick society. Odyseus is united in friendship with other men through work and mutual toil as he “stopped the ears of my comrades one by one.” (7) The men come together as comrades, placing wax in their ears, as they unite to face the common foe: female guile. Odyseus attitude toward these men is loving, begnin and gentle.
In Contrast, for the Sirens Odyseus harbors only awe and suspicion. Odyseus and the beasts are separated not only by the sea & cliffs but also by a gap of understanding. He describes their song as “high, thrilling” (13) suggesting that the song is aloof yet tempting. The physical placement of the sirens, on the cliffs above the sailors, is symbolic as well. The Sirens perch on the proverbial ‘pedistool,’ are idealized but also feared. The sirens appeal to Odyseus using flattery, stating ‘Come Closer, famous Odyseus—Achaea’s Pride & gory—“ (14) The sirens play-upon Odyseus’ sense of self-importance. His reaction is physiological, he reacts to their temptation both w/ physical arrousal & egotistical. He states “the heart inside me throbbed to listen longer”. He wants only to hear his praises sung over & over—he is lead into temptation by his own pride.
Margaret Atwood answer’s the pride, presumption and hubris reflected in Odyseus’ story with her own ‘Siren Song.’ She is frustrated with being placed upon a pedistool, with being limited by society to being a dangerous seductress, feminine and beguiling. Odysesus’ misconceptions of women are truly the views of an entire society and have forced Atwood to fight back with the only weapons she has left available—her cunning and powers of flattery & seduction.
Atwoods voice is distinctly ironic and bitter towards those she is trying to seduce into hearing her song. She notes the foolishness of men who allow themselves to “leap overboard in squadrons /even though they see the beached skull” (5-6). Her tone after these lines becomes beguiling but also intentionally sarcastic. In a reference to the mythical image of the sirens she staes, ‘and if I do will you get me out of this bird suit?” (ll-12) The image of the “bird suit’ causes the vision of seduction—the siren—to become rediculas & awkward.
Atwood resorts to flattery of her reader as an ironic device—to prove how hollow the action is and to demonstrate her resentment at being thought of as merely a seductress instead of an intellect. She states, “to you, only to you”. (20) The repetition of the word you makes the reader feel awkwardly unimportant, & the reader begins to get a sens that they are being patronized.
Essentially, the first pasaage conveys a sense of machismo & hubris through imagery and a grandios tone. This then becomes the motivation for the second poem which bitterly remonstrates these falacious stereotypes.
Sample HHH
These two poems written about the Sirens from the “Odyssey” can be interpreted in two very diffent ways, yet they hold such similarity. The tone, point of view and diction are three very important poetic devices to be examined when discussing the two different poems.
The tone of the first poem is cautious and even adventursome. Odysseus know what the luring sirens will do to him, so he is taking precautions by stopping his crew’s ears and asking them to bind him. Odysseus knows better than to let the sirens take over him. In the second poem by Margaret Atwood, the tone is much more a warning, even a bit taunting.
The point of view of each is a very important device. In the first poem, the poem is from Odysseus’ point of view (first person). He speaks of his experience when passing the Sirens. He feels the danger, he is scared to be lured in. In the Siren Song, we also see a first person point of view, but instead this time the narrator is the Siren. “Help me!”, (ln 22), the siren cries out as she is webbing her next victim.
There are two very different types of diction being used in these two poem, and that is what distinguished them from one another. In the first poem, the writer uses words like strength, ravishing, throbbed, and thrilling to create a more adventurous tone. On the other hand in the “siren Song”, Atwood uses words such as irresistable, dead, maniacs, and fatal again to create a more taunting and ever perhaps lugubrious tone.
Sample FFF
In the English translation of this episode the Sirens are portrayed as seductive and mystical creatures. “. . . sails on, a wiser man.” indicates that they feel like they are helping men, however they are just luring them in. the tone is a much more positive one than Margaret Atwood’s poem. The poem portryes the Sirens in need of help. The sirens pretend to be in need of assistance and call out to any passing ships.
The point of view also changes varies. In the translation Odysseus is telling the story of how he heard the siren’s song and lived to tell about it. the portrayal is influenced by a man, who is the primary target of the sirens. In the poem, one of the sirens is speaking about how she feels about singing. Now it seems that the sirens are the ones that need the help.
Sample T
The mythical Sirens of Homer’s Odyssey are often a symbol for the influence of women on pining and lovesick men. Their tricks and temptations are almost unavoidable. Such is the case in the original story of the Sirens in Homer’s Odyssey and in Margret Atwood’s “Siren Song.” The two selections portray the Siren’s from the original point of view of Odysseus and from the contemplated point of view of one of the Sirens. The poet’s variances in tone, point of view, and imagery create two contrasting views of the myth.
The cutting from the Odyssey shares the original tone of the work. It is determined, shown through Odysseus, but also pining. The determination of Homer’s piece is shown through the measures taken by Odysseus and his crew to resist the lure of the sirens. The Ithican warrior “stopped the ears of [his] comrades one by one,” in his attempt to shield them from the tantalizing song. Likewise, the crew bound him to the mast so that he could hear the song without harm. As the Sirens begin to sing, Odysseus’ tone changes to one pining to stop the ship and longing to stay with the beautiful voices. His men, however, still determined, “[bound him] faster, with rope on chafing rope.” While the tone of this passage centers around strength and resistance, in Atwood’s poem, the tone is cynical and uninterested. The Siren tells the reader “I don’t enjoy it here.” She belittles her fellow singers and claims that the listner is “unique.” However, the tone changes in the last stanza. Where the speaker had previously shown a cynical look at her daily occupation, here she changes to a tone of satisfaction as she has coaxed in another man “at last.”
Since the point of view in Homer’s epic is that of Odysseus, his male desires and vunerable state dominate the passage. He hears the Siren’s song as the most beautiful sound in the world; without their protection, Ocysseus and his men are powerless against the Sirens’ call. Odysseus’ point of view is on the defensive side of the story. In “Siren Song”, the tantalizer uses her femininity to exhalt a “poor me” attitude which she uses to her advantage. Odysseus feels “the heart inside me [throb] to listen longer,” but the Siren claims “I don’t enjoy singing,” and rallies her listener to help her off of the island. Her point of view is carefully planned and monotonous, but as she captures yet another sailor through her trickery, she tells the reader “it works every time.”
The imagery of both pieces creates a sharp contrast in the portrayal of the Sirens. The danger of the creatures is emphasized in the Odyssey as the men “flung themselves at the oars and rowed on harder,” to prevent Odysseus from following their “honeyed voices” to the shore. The crew fights to avoid “their high, thrilling song.” The Siren, however, creates an images of safety as she claims she needs someone to “get me out of this bird suit.” She admits that the island is “picturesque and mythical,” but insist that her cohorts are “feathery maniacs.” The images Atwood creates are intended to assure safety to the Siren'’ unsuspecting victim.
These two portrayals of the mytical Sirens in Homer’s Odyssey and Atwood’s “Siren Song” are sharply contrasted through the use of point of view, tone, and imagery. As the contrasting views of male and female develop, the “weaker sex” is glorified by upsetting the male’s trust and prevailing.
Sample XX
Poems are often written as reflections. They can reflect ideas, occurrences, or even each other. Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song” and part of Homer’s Odyssey both reflect on the song of the Sirens of Greek mythology. However, the poems each approach their subject from different points of view and with different tones and diction.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus molds wax with his hands “to seal [his men’s] ears.” He himself is tied tightly down so he will be physically unable to folow the siren’s sweet voices. The men row on as Odysseus is tortured by the song. Only after they are far past the siren’s land came he be set free. Conversely, in Atwood’s poem, the reader is asked if he or she would like to learn the song that no person can resist. The reader is asked, in exchange for hearing this sweet song, if he or she will set the speaker free. He or she will be the only person to know the song, and although it is “boring,” “it works every time.”
The two poems tell a similar story, but from very different points of view. Homer’s poem is written in third person. It tells the tale of Odysseus’ struggle against the temptation of the Sirens. The reader is not drawn into the action, but merely an observer. However, Atwood’s poem draws the reader into the event. It is written in first person, using pronouns such as “I” and “you.” This poem is asking the reader directly if they will listen to the song. The speaker is a siren attempting to lure another person into her world. The reader feels more a part of the action and experiences some of the temptation Odysseus felt. Though, the poems contain similar messages of temptation, Atwood’s poem is more effective because it allows the readers into the action and portrays the sirens as more devious creatures.
In addition to contrasting point of view, the two poems have different tones, as well. Odyssey is written in amore dramatic manner. The situation surrounding Odysseus’ resistance to the song is described. Homer writes of “the Sirens [sensing] at once a ship. . . racing past and [bursting] into their high, thrilling son.” Odysseus strains to break free, but is held and forced to resist. The overall tone of Homer’s poem is very dramatic. Conversely, Atwood’s poem is extremely mysterious. The song is described as “secret.” No one knows the song “because anyone who has heard it/is dead, and the others can’t remember.” The poem is a little elusive because the reader never knows what is going to happen. The tones of the two poems portray the Sirens as dramatic in one version and extremely mysterious in the other.
As well as unique tones and points of view, Odyssey and “Siren Song” each employ unique diction. Odyssey contains more imagery and descriptive words in portraying the sirens. Their voices are described as “honeyed voices pouring from [their] lips.” The words chosen by Homer are soft and flowing. As Odysseus listens to the song, “the heart inside him throbbed to listen longer.” In “Siren Song” Atwood uses contrasting words to emphasize the power of the sirens. The fifth stanza seems odd as it says, “I don’t enjoy it here . . this island looking picturesque and mythical.” Also, the reader is told he or she is unique multiple times, but the last line states, “it works every time.” In Atwood’s poem, the sirens are portrayed as confusing and temptuous through these contrasting words.
Odyssey and “Siren Song” portray the sirens differently through the use of unique point of view, tone, and diction.
Sample CC
Both Homer and Atwood portray the sirens in a similar manner. Their mutually unique methods share common tone towards their subjects. Both authors portray to the reader the sirens as deceptive and flattering.
Homer tells his story in first person through the eyes of Odysseus. His portrayal of the sirens is thus subjected to the views of Odysseus’ character. The tone of the passage is fearful and suspenseful. We are shown the fear of both Odysseus and his crew. Any force which instills the desire to be bound to a ship’s mast for fear of its seducing nature is indeed a frightful idea. The passage is given a hint of suspense when we are made to wander what will become of Odysseus and his crew. Will the crew disobey his orders and untie him? Their absolute fear of the situation is shown again when “they flung themselves at the oars and rowed on harder.”
Homer shows the nature of the sirens through their song. His diction shows how they flatter Odysseus. They call to him, describing the traits he aspires to the most: those of the hero. They call “famous Odysseus” and label him “Achaea’s pride and glory,” and their song is “thrilling.” Who would not be thrilled to be famous and all the rave in your homeland?