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Comparing The Sirens In Homer's Odyssey And Siren Song

671 Words3 Pages

These passages describe an encounter with the same mythical creatures, but reflect a different portrayal of the Sirens.Homer’s Odyssey depicts the Sirens as beautiful but menacing beasts that desire to charm sailors with their alluring voices to their awaiting destruction. Margaret Atwood’s poem, “Siren Song,” however, presents them as practically mortal beings and place all fault on the male’s stupidity other than their seductive call. Through a variation in the use of tone,point of view, and irony, Homer and Atwood express the captivating strength of the Sirens.

The Sirens embody the feminine take on a “seductress,” personifying a gorgeous creature whose aspiration is to induce masculine victims to their demise. Atwood …show more content…

Homer lays out his tale of Odysseus’ experience with the Sirens from Odysseus’ perspective of the situation.Odysseus’ perspective of the Sirens is that they are enticing creatures who he wishes to follow as he hears their delightful chorus. Book 12 of the Odyssey, Odysseus cries out “I signaled the crew with frowns to set me free— they flung themselves at the oars and rowed on harder, Perimedes and Eurylochus springing up at once to bind me faster with rope on chafing rope,”(Homer, Odyssey). In Odysseus’ eyes the Sirens seem ravishing and desirable. Atwood’s “Siren Song,” is from the position of a member of the Siren clan who does not enjoy singing in this trio. This member expresses these feelings by stating it plainly, “I don’t enjoy it here squatting on this island looking picturesque and mythical with these two feathery maniacs I don’t enjoy singing this trio, fatal and valuable.” This affiliate validates her stance on her clique via expressing her true feelings on being associated with them, from the island life to the life of being a trickster, proclaiming to not enjoy the

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