Name:__________________________
Class Period:______________
“Siren Song”
BY MARGARET ATWOOD
This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:
the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see the beached skulls
the song nobody knows
because anyone who has heard it
is dead, and the others can't remember.
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
I don't enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical
with these two feathery maniacs,
I don't enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.
I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song
is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique
at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.
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Name:__________________________
Class Period:______________
“Siren’s Song”
Short Answer Question
What message do you think the speaker is trying to convey about the men who hear the
song?
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Literary & Expository Question:
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Did not answer the question
Only a summary
Missing quote or specific paraphrased support
Missing commentary/insight
Quote not embedded smoothly
Quote does not fully support the answer
Commentary/insight could be deeper and more connected
Deep and meaningful insight
A fluent answer where facts and insight are woven seamlessly together
Pre-writing:
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Name:__________________________
Class Period:______________
TPCASTT: “Siren Song”
T-title: Make predictions about the meaning of the title without reference to the poem. Do this
BEFORE reading the poem.
P-paraphrase: Put the poem in your own words. DO NOT READ INTO THE POEM. Only
read on surface level. (Do this on the next page—STANZA by STANZA.)
C-connotation: Look for deeper meaning. What is the connotation of the poem? (List positive
& negative connotative words in poem.) What is the denotation (dictionary
definition) of the poem? (List the words you do not know and look up their
definitions in the dictionary.)
o Positive Connotation:
o Negative Connotation:
o Denotation:
A-attitude: Look for the poet’s tone. What is the poet’s tone towards the topic & his/her
situation?
S-shifts: Looking for shifts in tone, action, and rhythm. Discuss how the shift(s) affects the
poem. Where is the shift?
T-title revisited: Reevaluate the title as it pertains to the poem. (Look at the title again.) Is there
any more about the poem revealed in the title, now that you have analyzed the
poem? Why did the poet give the poem that name?
T-theme: What is the overall message of the poem? What is it saying? How does it relate to
life? What point do you think the poet was trying to make?
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