Literary Elements In Siren Song

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Atwood uses literary elements such as allusion, imagery, and tone in the poem “Siren Song” to charm her subject. The use of allusion throughout the poem refers to the epic poem, the “Odyssey”. As both works show sailors being lured from their ships as they hear the song of the Sirens, a relationship is shown between the poems although it is not directly stated. Imagery is also a key element of the poem. As Atwood mentions, “the song that forces men to leap overboard in squadrons”, the lengths the men would go to just from hearing the mythical song is shown, which ultimately led them to their deaths. Atwood also remarks, “squatting on this island looking picturesque and mythical with these two feathery maniacs”, showing the appearance of these