Group+11

Group 11 **(Danarenae and Kris)**

Margaret Atwood’s mythological poem, “Siren Song,” is told from the perspective of the Sirens, an occurrence that is rare in both Greek Mythology and literature alike. Through the use of specific diction and structure, Atwood is able to convey to the reader both her tone and the ironic nature of the poem. With the use of these two literary devices, Atwood gives the reader more insight into the poem, "The Siren Song".

Atwood combines her carefully chosen words to make statements that mock the Siren’s victims and audience, as she knows they do not stand a chance against her song. The Siren begins by saying that her song is so “irresistible” that it “forces men to leap overboard in squadrons” each and every time. Because her song is always successful, she finds it “boring” and describes herself as longing to get out of her “bird suit” and be free from “squatting” and singing on her island. Both of these actions express dissatisfaction for her mundane life as her song and her victims are so predictable. Moreover, her mocking tone continues as she pleas to her audience to save her by saying, “Help me! Only you, Only you can, you are unique…” She is obviously mocking her audience and their ultimate death as she has already conveyed to them that no one can survive her song. She is making her audience feel as though they can play the part of a hero and save her, which is only more irresistible to the already tranced victims. Lastly, the Siren also mocks her audience by taunting them with the promise that she will “tell the secret” of the song to them if they “Come close,” which is only luring them closer to their death. Structurally, the location of the diction used by Atwood also influences the tone of the poem. The structure of placing diction that influences the reader to pity the Siren and her caged position before the diction that causes the reader to want to be hero and save the Siren from her boring life sets the plot of the Siren that is very much intertwined with her tone. This routine of luring her victims is so natural and simple that the reader does not realize that they are being lured in as they are emotionally drawn into helping her, which is their ultimate downfall, due to the placement of the diction. Overall, the diction and structure of the poem conveys the tone to the audience as while Sirens may continue to sing a cruel, deathly song, they find their lives to be very boring due to their song’s set outcome.

In addition to tone, Atwood’s use of diction and structure also illustrates the irony within her writing. A title to an essay, a novel, a poem is never merely made without deep consideration and Atwood’s “Siren Song” is no different. Although the story of the Sirens has been told since the Classical Period, for Atwood to name this poem “Siren Song” is her attempt to help the reader in understanding the irony. A siren is associate with something that is used to warm the listener of an approaching danger such as an emergency vehicle. However, as noted in this piece, the Siren does quite the opposite: it “forces men to heap overboard” despite the “beached skulls” that they see on shore. An addition to her use of diction, Atwood also displays irony through the structure of the poem. At the beginning, Atwood, speaking as one of the Sirens, warns the reader of the dangers that the Song causes, noting that, “the song... is irresistible.” That “anyone who has heard it is dead.” However despite trying to act helpful with good intentions, she persuades the reader in the third stanza to, “Come closer.” She proceeds by seducing the reader, making it seem like he is the only one that can help her by slyly convincing him that, “you[he] is unique.” Atwood concludes the poem by saying, “Alas it is a boring song but it works every time,” which implies that the Siren has what she wants and the reader has fallen for her trap. By formatting the poem in this way, it's ironic how despite the foretelling of death that the Sirens gave the audience, they continue to get closer and closer to the Siren and their death. Through the diction and the structure of the poem, Atwood is able to convey irony.

The “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood went where few pieces of literature and mythology have gone, describing Siren's songs from one of the creatures that sing them. In this piece, Atwood displays a specific use of diction and structure which helps shed light on both her tone and use of irony. By using these two methods to analyze the poem, he or she is able to understand aspects of the poem that may have otherwise eluded him or her.