Alyssa Prydz

Period 6
4/26/17
Final Score: 23/25
The Odyssey Timed Write

The myth of Sirens is not one to take lightly as it is not all about mermaids that call

sailors to the seas, but half human, half birdlike creatures that will use their voices to kill and

destroy any man that hears their song. In book twelve of the Greek epic known as The Odyssey,

Odysseus and his crew are warned by the goddess named Lady Circe of these creatures that are

known to lure men to their deaths through their entrancing voices. A poem written by Margaret

Atwood known as Siren Song uses the knowledge of The Odyssey to create the image and

characters of how the sirens are absolutely irresistible. In Siren Song and The Odyssey, both

Homer and Atwood use tone, imagery, diction, and point of view to portray the sirens as

undeniable creatures that will enchant any man who dares to come across their path along the

sea.

In Homers The Odyssey, the text describes the sirens in multiple ways and uses specific

figurative language, such as diction and tone to provide an explicit portrayal of the sirens to the

readers. For instance, when sirens sense Odysseus ship approaching, they burst into song using

words that persuade sailors that dare to listen, Homer writes, Come closer, famous

Odysseus-Archaea's pride and glory---moor your ship on our coast so you hear our song!

(Homer, lines 14 and 15). Here the text uses alluring words to capture Odysseus and make him

want to advance toward the Sirens. The Sirens use of diction in their song makes it even more

enticing as their voices make Odysseus want to follow and hear their seductive song. They even

appease Odysseus by exclaiming that he is Ache's pride and glory. Even while saying these
words, they use a high pitched and soothing tone to trap Odysseus into listening and following

their voices. Homers point of view is that he makes the sirens seem sweet, calm, and beautiful

through the use of their serene voices. Yet, it is ultimately this disguise that allows the sirens to

kill and trap the sailors who listen to their song. In The Odyssey, Homer uses many types of

descriptive words to depict the sirens as divine and sweet, but in reality they are disturbing

creatures that will devour anyone that hears their song.

In the poem Sirens Song Atwood uses specific diction and tone similar to The

Odyssey to illustrate her point of view of the sirens. For example, the author describes how the

sirens employ specific word choices to make them appear enticing, Atwood writes, Come

closer. This song is a cry for help: Help! Only you, only you can, you are unique at

last.(Atwood, lines 21 -25). Atwood specifically employs the use of words that would make any

sailor become entranced by the sound of a sirens song. Atwood uses words like, only you, only

you to make the sailor want to follow and listen. The use of only you seduces a man into

thinking that the siren has specifically chosen him exclusively, and places the man under the

spell of their voice. Furthermore, the tone of the sirens voice is one which is soothing and calm,

pleading for help from a sailor. The author makes the sirens seem alluring in order to show how

the men want to listen because of the sirens tone and use of diction. In the poem, Sirens Song

the author uses figurative language, diction and tone to illustrate how alluring and enticing the

sirens really are, just like in Homers The Odyssey.

In Homers The Odyssey, there is use of imagery and point of view to depict the sirens as

absolutely seductive because of their soothing voices. In particular, when Odysseus explains how

the sirens voices made his heart long to go closer, So they sent their ravishing voices out across
the air and the heart inside me throbbed to listen longer. (Homer, lines 19-20). Here the author

uses imagery to paint a picture of the tone of the voice that make the men become so enticed and

eager to follow the sound of the sirens voices. The sirens are described with even greater detail

showing how Odysseus could not resist coming closer to them given that their voices are truly

enticing causing his heart to throb with emotion. Homer employs Odysseuss point of view,

whereby Odysseus describes how he longs to hear more of the sirens and how it affects him as he

becomes consumed by their enchanting cries, thus having to be tied to a lugger in order to resist

the temptations of these captivating creatures. Through Odysseuss point of view we see how

sailors genuinely cannot resist the sirens as just the sound of their voices will envelop them with

a desirous passion. Both imagery and point of view play vital roles in the portrayal of the sirens

as they provide great depth in depicting the essence of their personalities.

In the Sirens Song, Atwood also uses imagery and point of view similar to The

Odyssey as she uses the image of sailors who are unable to resist the lures of the sirens

wondrous voices. For example, the author explains how the men, consumed by the sirens

enchanting voices, simply jump overboard together, blinded by the reality of its true nature, a

vile creature, the song that forces men to leap overboard in squadrons even though they see the

beached skull..Alas it is a boring song but it works every time. (Atwood, lines 4-6 and lines

25-27). Atwood provides similar imagery to that of Homer as she demonstrates how the sirens

entrancing voices make the sailors react in a primitive manner as theyll leap overboard just to

hear the sirens song. The imagery is similar to that of The Odyssey as Odysseus was ever so

longing to be near the sirens, while Atwood expresses how the sailors would do anything to

come closer to the sirens, such as leaping overboard. Siren Song is told via a sirens point of
view, but is still similar to The Odyssey as both illustrate how the sirens know that their songs

will undeniably seduce men each and every single time. Both point of views in The Odyssey and

Siren song provide evidence as to how the sirens will tempt sailors. Atwood describes how the

sirens voice will work every time ships pass by, while Homer depicts Odysseus as a man who

could not resist following the wondrous sound of the sirens. Atwood expresses imagery and

point of view that is like that of the Odyssey as they both use these literary techniques to

exemplify how profoundly a sailor could become tempted by the sirens that they could not stop

themselves from falling under their spell.

To conclude, Atwood and Homer use numerous poetic devices as well as point of view to

depict the sirens as creatures that seduce the sailors into following their voices. Atwood and

Homer bestow upon the readers persuasive diction and tone to explicitly show how one should

picture the sirens as monstrous creatures that are not to be taken lightly as they are not what they

seem. The imagery that both Homer and Atwood use, while employing different word choices,

still exemplify how one should view the sirens not as beautiful creatures, but as antagonizing

creatures that are fully aware of their malicious intent to trap men, ultimately lead to their death.

The point of view, while different in The Odyssey and Siren Song, both nonetheless emphasize

how sirens make themselves enticing in manner which is irresistible, beyond that of a mans

rational control. In Greek Mythology, sirens will forever be known as half woman, half birdlike

beings that propel sailors to their ultimate demise.