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In the poem “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood, there is no formal structure. The poem is written in free verse, and as a result there is no rhyme, rhythm, or meter. The poem also lacks a chorus or repeated section. This could be because the speaker, a siren, is so fed up with her role luring in unsuspecting sailors with her song that she is attempting to break free from the traditional elements of a song. She has been forced to sing what she describes as a “boring song” with two “feathery maniacs” for as long as she can remember, and as a result she is attempting to cut loose and finally express her true feelings outside of the confines of conventional song structures. This approach helps to get her point across and it feels much more personal. The siren addresses the reader directly, making the poem more direct and intimate than it would have been had it been structured as a classic song or poem. Atwood succeeded in making her speaker seem more human and real using this particular structure.

The poem //Siren Song//, written by Margaret Atwood, describes mythical bird creatures called “sirens” and portrays the unique song of one particular siren, who narrates the poem. The tone of the poem is blend of desperation and humor, which create an interesting contrast. The poem’s pleading and humorous tones are portrayed by Atwood through the use of diction.

In the poem //Siren Song,// there are two major tones: pleading and humorous. Throughout the poem there is a distinct pleading tone evident through the use of diction. Certain questions and phrasing that Atwood uses during the poem conveys this pleading tone. Atwood demonstrates this when the siren says, “Shall I tell you the secret and if I do will you get me out of this bird suit?” basically the siren is trying to make a bargain with the reader. Once again a pleading tone is displayed when the siren says, “This song is a cry for help: Help me! Only you, only you can, you are unique…” conveying the idea that the reader is unique and only he/she is able to help her. The very idea that the siren is saying the song is a cry for help shows how much the siren is pleading with the reader.

The poem’s desperate sounding overall tone is contrasted by Atwood’s use of humor. While the narrator seems to be pleading for salvation, she is also playfully mocking her own situation. She describes her two companions as “feathery maniacs,” and likens her own bird-like form to a “bird suit.” Her use of mockery and self-deprecation convey that she has a casual and laid-back attitude, and is not afraid to make fun of herself and her situation.

Margaret Atwood’s use of tone in “Siren Song” depicts the narrator as more “human” than sirens are typically portrayed as. She is feels trapped in her role as a siren and as a result she pleads with her audience to rescue her. In addition, she uses humor to make herself and her companions. By making her narrator capable of feeling these typically “human” emotions and dealing with them in a “human” fashion, the reader more easily forms a connection with the siren.