Siren Song
The narrator of this poem assumes that people are jealous of the sirens, that people are jealous of the ability to have people kill themselves just to get a glimpse of their "beauty." This is also assuming that people are jealous that the sirens must live a life of solitude. Everyone they attract ends up dead. Maybe the knowledge of the song is desirable because nobody knows the song. It is desirable because it is intangible and out of reach. This peom is from a different perspective than expected because most people view sirens as content creatures. This siren, however, is not happy. Her words become pessimistic to emphasize her unhappiness living this life of solitude. This peom makes sirens appear helpless because everybody who hears their cry of help ends up dying. Nobody interprets the song as a cry for help, but instead as a seduction call. Why does the author say that this song works? This line seems to go against the rest of the poem. Wouldn't the song NOT work because it is a cry for help and nobody can help them?
Ulysses
This story was a little bit hard to follow. I've read the story of Ulysses several times before, and it is an interesting story. The narrator notes at the beginning of the story that an idle king does not benefit his people. Ulysses has not appeared in any way like an idle king in any interpretation of the story. Other parts of the poem, such as mentioning having a hungry heart and mentioning that he has experienced a lot and remembers it all while fighting, are all qualities of a good king. Ulysses is proud of his son, who has different qualities and strengths as his father but will also succeed. The narrator also mentions that it is never too late to make a change in something. Even when the end of the day is approaching, or older age has hit, one can always change something for the better. This poem appears to be narrated by Ulysses in an older age.
Leda and the Swan
It is interesting that Zeus would take swan form to be able to have his way with a human. Why would he not just take human form? The girl that is described appears to be helpless. The swan seems to be the dominant figure, also a somewhat protecting figure. The burning roof and tower and the broken wall represent the unfaithful wife of Agamemnon. All of those images cause destruction, just as unfaithfulness does.
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3 comments:
Wow, your view about the sirens poem is very good. I like how you contradict the author with your own points of view. Questioning why the song works shows how in depth you got with the story, and I agree that if the point is that the sirens are stranded and need help then the song does not work when it kills all who come to them.
I like that you noticed the siren's song itself, not just the siren, but you also made note of the siren's unhappyness.
I liked your interpretation of leda and teh swan. I also thought this was very intesting and kind of sick in a way that zeus would use a swan just like you said.
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