Odysseus and the Sirens
The Odyssey, “Siren Song”, and Ulysses and the Sirens are pieces of work focusing on the same subject: the Sirens. These mythical creatures are massive birds with a woman’s face. They trick sailors to go overboard and then make a meal out of them. Each piece depicts the Sirens in different ways and conveys a unique tone.
The epic poem, The Odyssey, portrays the Sirens as tempting and emphasizes a seductive tone. They entice the men and try to fool them saying “‘once he hears/ to his heart’s content sails on, a wiser man’”(Homer). If it weren’t for the beeswax plugging their ears, Odysseus’ men would be jumping overboard and eaten because no one has heard the Sirens’ song and survived. Moreover, the Sirens do not tempt the crew bluntly. Instead, they take on the face of seductive women and are wise in how they satisfy the men. They cleverly adore “‘famous Odysseus- Achaea's pride and glory’” (Homer). The Sirens’ flattery keeps Odysseus struggling from his temptation. Therefore, Homer conveys a
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The poem starts with a mysterious story, and the Siren claims she hates where she is. But it ends with a disturbing surprise when she clarifies “it is a boring song/ but it works every time” (Atwood). This discloses the deceiving way of the Sirens; the whole poem is a trick the reader falls for each time, just how the prey would be eaten. Next, Atwood conveys a tone of playfulness when the Siren complains she doesn’t “enjoy it here/ squatting on this island/ looking picturesque and mythical/ with these two feathery maniacs” (Atwood). These details of the Siren’s attitude divulge a dry, playful tone that add to the deceiving factor. The word maniac along with other humorous words in the poem, like birdsuit, sparks a quirky connection between the Siren and the reader. In conclusion, this creature is depicted as deceiving and a playful tone is