ipl-logo

Eavan Boland's Daphne With Her Thighs In Bark

1005 Words5 Pages

A mythological story can express a valuable message to its readers, advising them to choose a certain path when making decisions and to stray away from what can harm them. It can also give an artist, whether it is a painter or a poet, the inspiration to express their intake of what was given to them. The expression can show support of a character’s decision, show sadness towards a character’s place in the myth, or relate the myth to a real-life occurrence. When poet Eavan Boland was reading Book 1 of Ovid’s Metamorphosis, she wanted to express a different meaning of the story of Daphne by writing “Daphne with her Thighs in Bark”. She did this by using a feminist approach while looking back at Daphne’s fate. Before going into the poem, let’s have a look at the background of where Boland got her sources for the masterpiece. In Ovid’s Metamorphosis Book 1, many mythical tales captivate the …show more content…

Once the reader reaches line fifteen, it is evident that Boland tied Daphne’s attempted escape from Apollo into her poem. We then wonder how the narrator broke free; she continues with “The trees reached out to me, I silvered and I quivered. I shook out my foil of quick leaves” (Boland, lines 20-23). The narrator explains how she kept running and didn’t call out to end the misery of running; she proceeds to talk of her freedom by saying “I shall be here forever, setting out the tea, among the coppers and the branching alloys and the tin shine of this kitchen; laying saucers on the pine table” (Boland, lines 26-31). Towards the end of the poem, Boland tells her “sister”: “Save face, sister. Fall. Stumble. Rut with him. His rough heat will keep you warm. You will be better off than me, with your memories” (Boland, lines 32-36). In translation, the narrator says: “Go ahead, stay trapped with the choice you have made, I’ll just continue living my life the way I want

Show More
Related
765 Words | 4 Pages

“We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts… For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for

Read More
671 Words | 3 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.

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

What is the purpose of all the contrasting, descriptive imagery? What elements underlyingly stand for other items? The poem opens with the speaker reflecting on their past and relating to frogs asserting that they

Read More
522 Words | 3 Pages

“The Odyssey,” written by Greek poet Homer is an epic tale depicting the brutally enduring quest home of the Greek hero, Odysseus. Within this heroic story, women play a very large and pivotal role in Odysseus’s trip home from the Trojan War. In his attempt to get back to his wife, Penelope, Odysseus’s progress is constantly hindered by the intervention of women who will do anything in order to either convince the heroic figure to stay with them or have him killed. The intentions of the women in the epic are all very different but one of the most prominent roles lies in the seductresses and the alluring women who will deeply influence Odysseus. Most importantly, Penelope plays a large role in portraying the importance of women’s roles in the story.

Read More
825 Words | 4 Pages

Meanwhile, Penelope is in Ithaka busy dealing with the suitors who vie for her hand in marriage, tending to her loom, and directing her serving maids at work. In Homer’s epic poem, women, and goddesses are treated differently than men and gods when it comes to their freedom, expectations, and image. One common occurrence in this epic poem is unequal freedom for women,

Read More
635 Words | 3 Pages

Lately, there have been a variety of classic fairy tales that have been renovated to appeal to an audience of the twenty-first century on the big screen. However, such revisions occur not only in movies, but in literature as well. Through the use of literary devices, we have the ability to connect classic tales to the modern world. In Edward Field's poem "Icarus", the author employs imagery and extended metaphor to adapt the Icarus myth to a contemporary setting.

Read More
780 Words | 4 Pages

In many societies today, individuals are led to believe that the concept of women possessing their own strength or independence is abnormal. As a result, women experience the world in a constrained way in comparison to men, even if they are in higher classes of society. However, these extensive aspects of females are contradicted in some ancient Greek literature. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer portrays women as a vital and powerful force through the characters Penelope and Circe, who counter the normality of misogyny in Homer’s time. Penelope’s character displays how some women are able to exceed society’s standards and show strength and cleverness when it is necessary.

Read More
772 Words | 4 Pages

Lotus-eaters, Polyphemus, sirens and suitors were all slain and outwitted by Odysseus, King of Ithaca and victorious fighter in the trojan war, but no one ever realizes that Odysseus could never have completed his trials without the help of goddesses, Athena and Circe. Homer’s famous epic, The Odyssey although thousands of years old shows a masculine-feminine balance through the imperative involvement of Athena and Circe in Odysseus' return home. The Odyssey tells the tale of the strong, godlike Odysseus on his voyage home from battle. What people don’t focus on are the women in his life like, Athena and Circe that give him the capability to endure a threatened homelife and the long journey home.

Read More
1255 Words | 6 Pages

In spite of the fact that Homer’s Odyssey is an epic story of a man’s gallant journey, women play a huge part throughout. Their unique yet controversial personalities, intentions, and relationships are vital to the development of this epic and adventurous journey of Odysseus. The poem by Homer was written at a time when women had an inferior position in society, yet that didn’t stop them from being any less influential. All of the women throughout the Odyssey possess different qualities, but all of them help to define the role of the ideal woman.

Read More
1007 Words | 5 Pages

The Odyssey by Homer contains multiple moments where female characters are oppressed or fit into a patriarchy, but there are several moments where these character show signs of rebellion against this oppression. Applying a critical lense of feminism to these characters and relationships create complexities and conflicts within the novel that shine meaning on the world. The character Penelope offers many of these moments. Analyzing the actions, situation, and comparisons with other characters using a the feminist critical lense will show a more enriched version of Penelope and offer a deeper insight of the patriarchy, and how is affects the world.

Read More
2014 Words | 9 Pages

#MeToo: Women as Portrayed by Virgil and Ovid To many students in the 21st Century, classic literature can be seen as dry, required readings that have no impact on their lives whatsoever. Current events seem to be much more interesting and immediate, but the issues being brought up today aren’t as new as one might think. The feminist movement has gained an enormous following in the last few years, fighting for equality and respect for all genders. Social media has united that movement and allows people to share their stories, especially with the recently trending hashtag #MeToo.

Read More
1490 Words | 6 Pages

Western Literature serves as the foundation all literature. In Marie de France’s poetry, she incorporates the work of Homer, the Bible, and Ovid into her own poetry. Both Marie and Homer use detailed writing styles in order to portray their devotion to family and their Gods. Similarly, Marie borrows inspiration from the Bible in order to show her devotion to God as a savior. She also uses Ovid’s stories in order to depict morals throughout her fables.

Read More
846 Words | 4 Pages

Beowulf is an excellent piece with a lot for the readers to desire and relate to while reading. This analysis explores different escapades while examining the role of women in the literature. One thing to point out is that female characters have always received very thin attention in different pieces of literature, something that has always made many people think that their role is meager. Every piece of literature has an important message to pass across to its intended audiences. Indeed, this study seeks to demystify the male-centric mindset to promote the visibility of women in the contemporary interpretation of literary works demonstrating that women play a greater role in the literature despite the proximity given to male protagonist.

Read More
1380 Words | 6 Pages

World Literature Paper – Role of Athena and Penelope in The Odyssey Homer’s, The Odyssey is an epic which was written many years ago. At that time, in Ancient Greek society, the dominant role was played by men and the women were considered and given an inferior position. But The Odyssey was often considered a women’s epic because women played an important role. Women in The Odyssey are portrayed as powerful, wise and controlling because they ensure that the illusion of male success will go on - they speak as men through women.

Read More
1568 Words | 7 Pages

Introduction The purpose of this essay is to investigate the women’s role in Classical Greece society and literature (5th/4th century b.C.). Therefore, I decided to discuss and analyse one of the most controversial comedies of that time, “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes. This text shows how women, sick of their submissive and powerless position in the political scenario of Athens and Sparta, come on the scene and, through a smart stratagem, achieve their expected result.

Read More

More about Eavan Boland's Daphne With Her Thighs In Bark

Related Topics

Open Document