Who is Medusa the poet?

Medusa by Patricia Smith - Poems | Academy of American Poets.

What is Medusa poem about?

The whole poem is an extended metaphor for a jealous woman who is grieving for her partner and turns against him. The metaphor describing her husband's heart for a shield suggests that he didn't love her properly.

Who has written the poem Medusa '?

Louise Bogan is one of the most accomplished American poet-critics of the mid-20th century.

How is Medusa presented in the poem?

The physical attributes of Medusa depict how jealousy turns a person into a formidable and fierce creature. She can't even have anyone around her as her eyes can turn them into stones. Despite the absence of human companionship, Medusa maintains her dignity. She knows that there are some things she can't change.

What happened Medusa?

She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head.

Medusa - Carol Ann Duffy Analysis

Who loves Medusa?

Medusa and Poseidon engaged in a love affair and would have two children together, but not before Athena discovered the illicit affair.

Who was Medusa before?

Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. She is not considered a goddess or Olympian, but some variations on her legend say she consorted with one.

Who killed Medusa?

Perseus set out with the aid of the gods, who provided him with divine tools. While the Gorgons slept, the hero attacked, using Athena's polished shield to view the reflection of Medusa's awful face and avoid her petrifying gaze while he beheaded her with a harpe, an adamantine sword.

What is the theme of the myth Medusa?

The story of Perseus and Medusa is a story of perseverance, bravery, and dignity. Perseus personifies the length one would go to in order to save the ones you love. Perseus shows the authenticity of his character when he rescues the helpless Andromeda from the Cetus and the attachment to the rock.

What is the theme of Medusa and Athena?

I think that the moral of Medusa tells us to appreciate others and to think about others as well as yourself. It tells the reader not to make the same mistake as Medusa did, and if you do you will have to pay for it. I think it also tells us to think before you say things.

How is jealousy presented in Medusa?

Jealousy is like poison and is seen in the poem. The poison infiltrates the snakes which “ grew in mind” and is physically spat out. This shows the characters intensity of feelings. In the first line it shows that Medusa lacks in confidence and insecure.

What does Medusa stand for?

Medusa represent power and the ability to destroy one's enemies. She's often viewed as a strong figure. Her head is viewed as a protective symbol and was even used by the French Revolution as a symbol of French liberation and freedom.

What was Medusa's power?

Powers. Trichokinesis:Medusa possesses prehensile hair, and she can not only control the growth and movement of it, but can maneuver each strand individually. Uncontrolled, her tougher-than-steel hair is naturally more than six feet long. She maintains this control even when the hair has been cut from her head.

What is Medusa's personality?

Medusa represents alot of things. But she would mostly represent vainness women's rage, or jealously. Vainness would mean meaningless, worthless, no value, or unsatisfying. Since Medusa was a woman she would mean women rage meaning violent uncontrolled anger because she would turn men to stone.

What was Medusa's real name?

Medusa is honored in the following scientific names: Acanthemblemaria medusa Smith-Vaniz & Palacio 1974.

Is Medusa still alive?

Medusa was eventually killed by Perseus, one of Zeus' heroic sons. With the help of several gods, Perseus tracked Medusa down to her remote lair and beheaded her.

How did Medusa become evil?

It is in the Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses that her story is most deeply elaborated. She was lovely, according to the poem—until she was raped in Athena's temple by Poseidon. Athena then punished her for this violation, by turning her into the monstrous, stony-glanced creature that we know.

Who are Medusa's sisters?

Medusa was the only mortal of the three Gorgons, with her sisters Stheno and Euryale both being immortal.

Who is Medusa's husband?

One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. She went against her vow and married him.

Was Medusa a princess?

Medusa, a Mycenaean princess as the daughter of King Sthenelus and Queen Nicippe (also called Antibia or Archippe), daughter of Pelops. She was the sister of Eurystheus and Alcyone. Also called Astymedusa, she became the second wife of Oedipus after the death of Jocasta.

What was Medusa's weakness?

Just as a person who has extra-acute hearing can be more easily overwhelmed by very loud noises, so too is Medusa particularly prone to psychic attacks. Her openness to others also leaves her open to attack. Medusa refers to this as a 'weakness.

Why was Athena jealous of Medusa?

What caught his attention most were the gorgeous, golden locks of hair Medusa had. Because Poseidon took such a liking to Medusa, he charmed her and swayed her off her feet. The two were caught having a love affair in Athena's temple. Once Athena found out about this affair, her jealousy raged and she became furious!

What lesson does Medusa teach?

The Moral of Medusa

She does nothing wrong, and she is punished by the gods anyways. This myth is actually a warning to mortals. Don't believe yourself to be equal to the gods.

What lesson did Medusa teach?

In examining the myth of Athena and Medusa further, the story also seems to be a suggestive fable, slyly teaching women how to look out for and protect one another in a society dominated by men, where rape is a constant threat. Athena was aware of Poseidon's hunger for Medusa and knew of Medusa's vow of celibacy.