Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2017
Introduction
I chose the to investigate the question: “How is Greek Mythology used by Carol Ann Duffy
and Margaret Atwood to convey significant meanings and feminist ideals to a modern
audience? ” as I am fascinated by the myths of ancient Greece culture and deeply enjoy
reading the poetry of Margaret Atwood and Carol Ann Duffy. Greek Myth has a very
prominent influence in Western culture. There are countless pieces of literature, music, and
film that are based, influenced, and inspired by such myths. It has created commonly used
allusions that can be seen in many forms popular culture. Modern poets Carol Ann Duffy and
Margaret Atwood have frequent references to Greek myth throughout their works, the titles
of their poetry frequently reference a particular character relevant to the poem. Both poets
often address gender issues, contemporary culture, and oppression and social inequality. The
poems that will be analysed in this essay are Atwood’s poems; Eurydice, and Siren Song , and
Duffy’s poems: Thetis, Circe, and Demeter. Atwood and Duffy regularly have allusions to
Greek Mythology in their works and frequently write about women, focusing on feminist
themes.
The sources used in this essay are non-fiction resources on Greek Mythology. Considering
there are many variations on Greek Mythology through slight changes in translations and also
alterations in ancient oral story-telling, I decided to use two sources where the myths directly
correlated in order to remain consistent. Other sources cited include Duffy and Atwood’s
published works, both online and in print.
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Goldsmith
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