Siren Song- Margaret Atwood

This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:
the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see the beached skulls
the song nobody knows
because anyone who has heard it
is dead, and the others can't remember
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
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.
I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song
is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique

At last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time

First Instinct

          After reading through the poem “Siren Song” by Atwood, my first reaction to the text was that it was describing an actual siren on a fire-truck. In the first few line of the poem, it mentions how everybody wants to learn the song. This reminds me of a siren on a fire- truck because during one part of everybody’s childhood, they wanted to be a fireman. Next, in the poem it says that the siren will tell us a secret. Sirens on a fire-truck tell individuals that somewhere in the distance there is a secret fire that they are travel to. Sirens on a fire-truck do not enjoy playing due to them knowing that every time they are playing, somebody is in danger due to a fire. Finally, in the last line, “but it works every time” my reaction was that the siren works every time because they allow the fireman to arrive at the fire before things get to out hand.

Paraphrasing

Everybody wants and hopes to learn this song:
the song is alluring
the song makes men
jump overboard into regiment
even though they see dead bodies
nobody knows this song
due to everybody hearing it
since everybody has heard the song,
it is dead and can’t be remembered.
Can I tell you a secret,
if I do will you let me
out of the bird suit?
It is not enjoyable
crouching on the island
looking charming and imaginary
with two fluffy fanatics
I don’t like singing
the three deadly and precious.
Tell you the secret
and only to you.
Come here. The song
is a cry for help.
Only you can help me,
you are special.

Finally,
the song is boring
however it works all the time

SWIFTT

Syntax/ Word: The simple structure functions to allow the readers to easily comprehend the poem. This structure supports the author’s purpose because the poem gets straight to the point and is easy to comprehend. Not only is the structure of the poem is simple but the diction throughout the poem is simply. This is significant also because Atwood wanted to the poem to be easy to comprehend for the readers.

Imagery: Throughout the poem, Atwood specific images to help the readers understand her purpose for writing the story. The first image in the poem is beached skulls. This is significant because it foreshadows what will happen to the men who listen to the siren song. The next image in the poem is a bird suit. This is significant is shows that the siren song is wearing a costume in order to fit in with other two sirens. These two sirens are some kinds of birds, which is why the third siren is in a bird costume.

Figurative: After analyzing the poem closely, the readers can conclude that Atwood does not use any forms of figurative language in “Siren Song”.

Tone: Once the readers have fully analyzed the poem by Wordsworth, readers can conclude that the tone of the poem is manipulative. There is a manipulative tone to the poem for plenty of reasons. The first reason is that the song lures men into the sea even though they see dead bodies that have washed up on the beach. The second way is that the song manipulates the men into believing that they are going to learn a secret that nobody else knows. In the end, the men end up being tricked to their death by the song.

Theme: After further analyzing the poem by Atwood, the readers can have a better understand of what the theme of the poem is. The theme of the poem is deception. Deception is the theme because the siren song tricks men into listening to the song. Once the men are listening to the song, they are murdered.

Conclusion

                    After further analyzing the poem “Siren Song” by Atwood, readers can conclude what Atwood’s true meaning for writing the poem was. Once I closely analyzed the poem, I could conclude that my first reaction was incorrect. The true purpose for writing the poem is to discuss a song that tricks men into listening to it, so they will eventually be murdered. The dead bodies that wash up on the beach are men that had been tricked into listening to the siren song. Even though, men continuous see the washed up bodies, they continue to be manipulated by the siren song, which eventually leads to their down fall. Also, the siren song mentions that it does not like to sing anymore, however, it will never stop singing because it likes to trick men to their deaths.

           

           

To Marguerite- Matthew Arnold

YES: in the sea of life enisled,
With echoing straits between us thrown.
Dotting the shoreless watery wild,
We mortal millions live alone.
The islands feel the enclasping flow,
And then their endless bounds they know.

But when the moon their hollow lights,
And they are swept by balms of spring,
And in their glens, on starry nights,
The nightingales divinely sing;
And lovely notes, from shore to shore,
Across the sounds and channels pour;

O then a longing like despair
Is to their farthest caverns sent!
For surely once, they feel, we were
Parts of a single continent.
Now round us spreads the watery plain--
O might our marges meet again!

Who order'd that their longing's fire
Should be, as soon as kindled, cool'd?
Who renders vain their deep desire?--
A God, a God their severence ruled;
And bade betwixt their shores to be
The unplumb'd, salt, estranging sea.

First Instinct

After reading through the poem, “To Marguerite” by Matthew Arnold, my first reaction to the text was that it described how humans are drifting apart over time. Before humans started drifting apart, individuals were unison with each other. However individuals began to develop different dreams and desires over time. As these dreams and desires differed from individual to individual, a rift began to develop between individuals too. Eventually, the rift between individuals increased dramatically. Now that individuals have drifted apart this dramatically, we are becoming lonely. This loneliness will eventually bring individuals back together.

Paraphrasing

In the world, life is isolated
With deep, terrifying distances between us.
Islands are randomly in the sea,
Millions of humans live alone.
The islands feel the tight flow,
And will be forever bounded.

When the moon shines bright,
And are comforts by the spring,
And in their narrow valley, on bright nights,
The nightingales sing beautiful
Notes from island to island;
Across the world the songs are heard;

After awhile misery begins to set in
However, misery is pushed away!
Before, this feeling they were
Part of the same piece of land.
But now they have drifted apart—
Might they drift together again!

Why did desire and the
Longing for togetherness has gone away?
Who can translate their deep yearns?
God ruled the islands separation;
and distance between shores
The unsound, salt, single sea.

SWIFTT

           Syntax/ Word: In the first stanza of the poem there are two alliterations: watery wild and mortal millions. Also after further analyzing the poem, the reader can see in one of the lines, the author is referring to the separation of a couple.
           Imagery: The author of the poem uses imagery throughout the poem.  With the imagery throughout the poem, the readers are allowed to get a vivid picture of what the author is talking about. For example, the author talks about the echoing straits which symbolizes the distance between the humans. Another example of imagery is that “the island feeling the enclasping flow”, which symbolizes loneliness.
          Figurative: The author uses alliterations: watery wild and mortal millions, in the first stanza.
          Tone: The tone of the poem “To Marguerite” is negative. The type of negative tone is loneliness and sorrow.
         Theme: The theme of the poem is that when there is a separation in a relationship, there is also loneliness.

Conclusion

After further analysis of the poem, I have come to the conclusion that my first reaction to the poem as similar to what the poem is actually about. “To Marguerite” is about the separation of a man and woman. The author of the poem is writing the poem to his ex-lover. With the separation the man fells lonely and separated from the world. This loneliness is indicated by the imagery of the islands. Arnold, the author, is hoping with the poem that the two lovers could be reunited.