Poetic and Musical Forms in The Penelopiad
1. What do the various poetic and musical forms Margaret Atwood uses to tell the maids’ story bring to the telling? Why do you think she chose to write The Penelopiad in this way?
In The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood chooses to use various poetic and musical forms to tell the maids' story. This allows the maids to tell their side of the story while keeping The Penelopiad realistic in the sense that the maids were a voiceless group with no power or say whatsoever. The maids, being daughters of the poor and the slaves, would have been unable to voice their opinion so, in order to show this divide from the other characters while still having their perspective shine through, Atwood has them sing and perform poetry. In addition, although not the primary reason, using song can make for an easy interpretation of tone. For example, in the first Chorus Line (Chapter II), the maids perform the Rope-Jumping Rhyme. It is quite simple to understand their feelings because it is a song and thus it contains repetition. In this example, the words "failed" and "killed" are repeated, effectively revealing the frustration (this is an understatement) the maids have with respect to the higher classes and Odysseus.
In The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood chooses to use various poetic and musical forms to tell the maids' story. This allows the maids to tell their side of the story while keeping The Penelopiad realistic in the sense that the maids were a voiceless group with no power or say whatsoever. The maids, being daughters of the poor and the slaves, would have been unable to voice their opinion so, in order to show this divide from the other characters while still having their perspective shine through, Atwood has them sing and perform poetry. In addition, although not the primary reason, using song can make for an easy interpretation of tone. For example, in the first Chorus Line (Chapter II), the maids perform the Rope-Jumping Rhyme. It is quite simple to understand their feelings because it is a song and thus it contains repetition. In this example, the words "failed" and "killed" are repeated, effectively revealing the frustration (this is an understatement) the maids have with respect to the higher classes and Odysseus.
I love the pictures you selected here Claire! I love how the director of that play bathes the maids in light because even though they die a blood-less death, their blood is still on Odysseus' hands. This is a really interesting point that you investigate in your actual blog, specifically how the maids stories being "told" through the chorus actually has no impact on the story which reflects their social status. I agree that the variation between classical chorus-style writing which I believe was used for exposition in Homer's time and the more modern nursery rhyme/song style of the maid's narration was a thoughtful choice on Atwood's part, showing how the maids were just children never given the chance to grow up, even at the time of their death. They are undeveloped characters, even the older girls, because they were never given the chance to develop their individual characters beyond "Penelope's faithful, murdered servants". I would have liked to see a little bit more of an explanation of the impact of the Rope-Jumping Rhyme, but overall good job!
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