Greek Mythology

Siren Song
I really liked this poem. I have always enjoyed Greek Mythology and am familiar with the story of the sirens. They are half-bird and half-human sisters who sing and play a song that cannot be ignored by any passing sailor. These sailors see the dead corpses lying on the unpassable reefs upon which these creatures live, but they still are drawn in by this song. The interesting part is how no one knows what the song sounds like or is about because all who hear it die and everyone who has gotten passed these creatures, like Odysseus' crew, did not actually hear it, except Odysseus himself. I liked how the poem told a secret, which really ended up being the song that the Sirens sing to lure everyone in. This poem gave an interesting perspective on what the Siren's song could be that would entice the sailors so much despite them knowing the fate that lies ahead of them. Making the song be a call for help from these creatures made the sailors seem noble, not being able to turn away, yet it takes away the nobility of Odysseus in the myth where he saved his crew and had himslef tied to his ship's mast so he could not swim to shore.

Ulysses
Ulysses, or the Latin version of Odysseus is the hero in the story, The Odyssey. Ulysses is a very noble character. He derives a plan to save Helen of Troy, creating the famous Trojan Horse. He overcomes amazing mythical obstacles and creatures like Cyclops, the Sirens, Circe the sorceress, and more. In the poem, "Ulysses," he is recounting these past events. He has become an old man is rehashing the adventures he has lived through. I find this poem to be kind of sad. After all, his whole journey had been to make it back home to his now "aged wife" and his son who had become so different from he. I understand, though, how he would feel that he cannot just sit and "rest from travel." He has seen too much to know that there is so much more out there, and nothing will satisfy him until he has seen more and done more in the world. He invites his "mariners" to come with him, because surely he doesn't believe they could be happy doing nothing either. He knows he is getting old but he is still "strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

Leda and the Swan
This is an interesting poem, because this myth is a particularly interesting one in Greek Mythology. It also has a lot of variation and controversy that accompanies it. Zeus came to Leda in the form of a swan and seduced her, which is what this poem is discussing. The myth concerning Leda mentions that Leda also slept with her husband, Tyndareus, the same night, and so there is a lot of confusion as to which of her children had which father. According to this poem, Leda was very reluctant but eventually did give in. This poem asks the question "did she put on his knowledge with his power before the indifferent beak could let her drop?" as if to say did she put up a fight, did he consider her or her feelings at all before she gave in and allowed Zeus to overpower her and have his way. The poem seems to be a retelling of this event because Agamemnon, who ended up marrying one of Leda's daughters, was obviously not dead yet like he was when the narrator was telling this story.