The Centaur

In the poem "The Centaur", May Swenson uses mythological allusion, sensory imagery, extended metaphor, first person narrative, and symbolism to convey the wild imagination of youth, and it's role in the sexual awakening of a young girl. This paper will examine and discuss this poem in light of Swenson's literary tools.

The first privileged moment the audience can claim as a glimpse into the meaning of the poem, is the title: "The Centaur." This is an apparent allusion to the creature of mythology which was composed of the upper torso of a human and the bottom half of a horse. Swenson uses this allusion to prepare the audience for the upcoming rhetoric that will involve the unity of two different ideas. In this case, the audience might argue that this is the emergence of the girl's knowledge of the adult world from the child that she once was.

The poem is written in first person narration. This allows the audience to see the transition in the narrator character through the poem.

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Category: Literature - T