Margaret Atwood - Siren's Song Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Which two genres does Margaret Atwood write?

Poetry (correct)

Non-fiction

Biography

Fiction (correct)

What year was Atwood born?

1939

Who was Atwood's favorite writer as a teenager?

Edgar Allan Poe

What attracted Atwood to Poe's poems?

His tales of horror and mystery Signup and view all the answers

What subject matter does Atwood's fiction and poetry explore?

Female characters' attempts to gain power and control over their situations Signup and view all the answers

What type of person is Atwood?

A feminist Signup and view all the answers

What do females strive to do in Atwood's poetry?

Dominate in male-female relationships Signup and view all the answers

What is Atwood's typical heroine like?

A modern-day urban woman who fights for control in a male-dominated society Signup and view all the answers

'Siren Song' is based on which story?

Homer's Odyssey Signup and view all the answers

Explain what Sirens are.

Creatures with the head of a woman and the body of a bird Signup and view all the answers

What power do the Sirens use to seduce their prey?

Their songs Signup and view all the answers

Before Odysseus, how many men heard the Sirens' song and lived?

None Signup and view all the answers

What is Odysseus' goal?

To hear the Sirens' song and live Signup and view all the answers

Who is referred to as a gorgeous witch?

Circe Signup and view all the answers

What does Circe advise Odysseus to do?

To cover his men's eyes with wax and have them tie him tightly to the mast Signup and view all the answers

What style is 'Siren Song' written in?

Free Verse Signup and view all the answers

Name two reasons why Atwood chose the three-line stanzas for 'Siren Song.'

<ol> <li>Number 3 was thought to hold special powers by ancients (Trinity) 2. Dante wrote his Divine Comedy in three-line stanzas</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Identify the allusion in 'Siren Song.'

Homer's Odyssey Signup and view all the answers

What is the stanza form for 'Siren Song?'

Tercets Signup and view all the answers

What important point does the speaker make in stanza one?

Everyone wants to be irresistible to the opposite sex Signup and view all the answers

List some of the lies the speaker tells to her listeners in 'Siren Song.'

Line 13 'I don't enjoy it here' Line 24 'you are unique' Line 23 'Only you, only you can' Line 22 'This song is a cry for help' Signup and view all the answers

Explain why the trio is 'fatal and valuable.'

The trio is fatal because everyone who hears the song dies and valuable because of how powerful it is over men Signup and view all the answers

Explain what happens to the listeners as depicted in the last sentence of the poem.

The listeners are eaten after being seduced by the Siren Signup and view all the answers

What does formal diction create?

Distance Signup and view all the answers

What does relaxed diction create?

Intimacy Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of lowered diction level.

Line 16 'with these two feathery maniacs' Signup and view all the answers

What relationship between men and women does Atwood portray in 'Siren Song'?

Atwood portrays through her 'Siren Song' the relationship between men and women. In the poem, the men are seduced by the Siren. The men are made vulnerable to the Siren's music. This is the same in our real world. Men show vulnerability to beautiful women. In the story, the Sirens use this to gain power and kill the men. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Margaret Atwood - "Siren's Song"

Margaret Atwood is known for her work in both fiction and poetry.
She was born in 1939, an influential year in her life.
Atwood admired Edgar Allan Poe as her favorite writer during her teenage years due to his horror and mystery themes.
Her literature often explores female characters seeking power and control within their environments.
Atwood identifies as a feminist, advocating for women's strength and agency.
In her poetry, women are depicted as striving for dominance in male-female relationships.
The typical heroine in Atwood's works is a modern, urban woman, often involved in writing or art, who battles societal constraints imposed by men.
"Siren Song" draws inspiration from Homer's "Odyssey," weaving classical themes into contemporary narratives.
Sirens are mythical creatures characterized by a woman's head and a bird's body.
The Sirens rely on their entrancing songs to lure and seduce sailors.
Before Odysseus, no man who heard the Sirens' song survived to tell the tale.
Odysseus's mission is to listen to the Sirens' song and emerge unharmed.
Circe, described as a gorgeous witch, plays a vital role in Odysseus's journey.
Circe instructs Odysseus to use wax to seal his men's ears and to tie himself to the ship's mast.
The poem "Siren Song" is composed in free verse, allowing for fluidity and expression.
Atwood employs three-line stanzas (tercets) for symbolic reasons, reflecting notions of power and alluding to Dante's "Divine Comedy."
The poem contains allusions to "The Odyssey," linking classic literature with modern themes.
The first stanza conveys the universal desire for irresistibility in romantic pursuits.
The speaker tells various deceptive lines, asserting feelings of dissatisfaction and uniqueness, creating a false sense of connection.
The trio of Sirens is described as both "fatal"—as their song leads to death—and "valuable" for its overwhelming influence over men.
The conclusion of the poem reveals the fate of the listeners, highlighting their ultimate demise after succumbing to seduction.
Formal diction throughout the poem creates a sense of distance, while relaxed diction fosters intimacy.
An example of lowered diction appears in a casual reference to "feathery maniacs," juxtaposing formality and approachability.
Atwood illustrates a complex relationship between men and women, where men react vulnerably to seductive women, often leading to dangerous consequences, mirroring real-life dynamics in gender interactions.

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Description

Test your knowledge on Margaret Atwood's works and life with these flashcards focused on her poem 'Siren's Song'. Each card highlights important facts about her writing influences, such as Edgar Allan Poe, her birth year, and the themes she explores in her fiction and poetry.