There are many differences and similarities between the poem áçAn Ancient Gestureáè by Edna St. Vincent Millay and áçThe Sirensáè by Donald Finkel. The poets use the legend of Ulysses as the background of the poems. The rhyming schemes are very obvious in the poems and they create fluent to the reader. The poets use allusions and style differently but they use the style to reveal the theme.
Although áçAn Ancient Gestureáè and áçThe Sirensáè allude to the story of Ulysses, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Donald Finkel use allusion differently. áçAn Ancient Gestureáè was alluding to the story between Penelope and Ulysses. The poet compared herself to Penelope. áçI thought, as I wiped my eyes on the corner of my apronáKdid this tooáè. The repetitions in the poem emphasised the pain between Penelope, Ulysses and the poet herself. Ulysses cried to show his sadness, and Penelope cried to show her pain during weaving.
Millay wants the reader to realize that Penelope was the one who suffered the most. On the other hand, áçThe Sirensáè was alludes to the story between Ulysses and the sirens indirectly. The poem was written from the point of view of the sirens seeing Ulysses crossing the sea.
In addition, the two poets use different style to write the poems. In áçAn Ancient Gestureáè, the Millay wants the reader to feel sorry for Penelope. She expressed the poem in a very calm tone, just liked telling a story. Also, the rhyme of the poem was easily located. The rhyming words were linked to emphasize the tone of the poem. áçNight-tightáè, áçyear-tearáè, and áçimplied-criedáè were used to stress the depressing feeling of the characters. Alternatively, in áçThe Sirensáè, Finkel uses enjambment in the poem because it alludes to the sirens who sang songs. Also, Finkel emphasized the allusion by using many personifications. áçSea turn in his bedáè and áçThe wind took it, and he heardáè. He personified sea and wind because they are related to the sirens that were sea creatures. In the last stanza, áçNow in a sea of wheat he rowsáè was a form of metaphor. It created imagery for the reader to address the allusion of the sirens.
Furthermore, the two poets use the style and language to bring out the theme of the poems. In áçAncient Gestureáè, the poet expresses a sadness atmosphere to the reader. She comments that Ulyssesáæ sadness is dishonest because áçUlysses did this too but only as a gestureáè. However, the poet emphasizes that Penelopeáæs feeling is true and deep, áçPenelope, who really criedáè. On the other hand, in áçThe Sirensáè, the poet compares Ulysses and the sirens. From the sirens point of view, they think that they win over Ulysses. No matter how strong and powerful Ulysses is, he is helpless and danger in the sea. Conversely, Ulysses thinks that he is the winner who conquers all battle in the land. From the two poems, they poets want the reader to realize that same story told by different people could have different meaning and interpretations.