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Jul 14, 2011 · The Penelopiad by Atwood, Margaret Eleanor, 1939-Publication date 2005 Publisher New York, NY : Canongate Collection ... Pdf_module_version 0.0.20 Ppi 514 ...
- Introduction
- A Low Art
- The Chorus Line: A Rope-Jumping Rhyme
- My Childhood
- The Chorus Line: Kiddie Mourn, A Lament by the Maids
- Asphodel
- My Marriage
- The Scar
- As Performed by the Maids, with a Fiddle, an Accordion, and a Penny Whistle First Maid:
- Chorus:
- Second Maid:
- Third Maid:
- Chorus:
- Melantho of the Pretty Cheeks, passing the hat:
- The Trusted Cackle-Hen
- The Chorus Line: The Birth of Telemachus, An Idyll
- Helen Ruins My Life
- Waiting
- As Performed by the Twelve Maids, in Sailor Costumes
- So a health to our Captain where’er he may roam, Tossed here and tossed there on the wide ocean’s foam, And he’s in no hurry to ever get home
- The Suitors Stuff Their Faces
- The Shroud
- Bad Dreams
- The Chorus Line: Dreamboats, A Ballad
- News of Helen
- Yelp of Joy
- Slanderous Gossip
- Prologue: Spoken by Melantho of the Pretty Cheeks:
- Eurycleia: Played by a Maid:
- Penelope: Played by a Maid:
- Penelope:
- Eurycleia:
- Penelope:
- Eurycleia:
- Penelope:
- Eurycleia:
- Penelope:
- The Chorus Line, in tap-dance shoes:
- Helen Takes a Bath
- Odysseus and Telemachus Snuff the Maids
- Presented by: The Maids
- Heart of Flint
- The Chorus Line: The Trial of Odysseus, as Videotaped by the Maids
- The Maids laugh bitterly.
- Home Life in Hades
- The Chorus Line: We’re Walking Behind You, A Love Song
- Envoi
- Acknowledgements
- Weight
- The Myths
- Observer
- Metro
- Los Angeles Times
- Vanity Fair
A Low Art The Chorus Line: A Rope-Jumping Rhyme My Childhood The Chorus Line: Kiddie Mourn, A Lament by the Maids Asphodel My Marriage vii The Scar viii The Chorus Line: If I Was a Princess, A Popular Tune ix The Trusted Cackle-Hen x The Chorus Line: The Birth of Telemachus, An Idyll xi Helen Ruins My Life xii Waiting xiii The Chorus Line: The Wily...
Now that I’m dead I know everything. This is what I wished would happen, but like so many of my wishes it failed to come true. I know only a few factoids that I didn’t know before. Death is much too high a price to pay for the satisfaction of curiosity, needless to say. Since being dead – since achieving this state of bonelessness, liplessness, bre...
we are the maids the ones you killed the ones you failed we danced in air our bare feet twitched it was not fair with every goddess, queen, and bitch from there to here you scratched your itch we did much less than what you did you judged us bad you had the spear you had the word at your command we scrubbed the blood of our dead paramours from floo...
Where shall I begin? There are only two choices: at the beginning or not at the beginning. The real beginning would be the beginning of the world, after which one thing has led to another; but since there are differences of opinion about that, I’ll begin with my own birth. My father was King Icarius of Sparta. My mother was a Naiad. Daughters of Na...
We too were children. We too were born to the wrong parents. Poor parents, slave parents, peasant parents, and serf parents; parents who sold us, parents from whom we were stolen. These parents were not gods, they were not demi-gods, they were not nymphs or Naiads. We were set to work in the palace, as children; we drudged from dawn to dusk, as chi...
It’s dark here, as many have remarked. ‘Dark Death’, they used to say. ‘The gloomy halls of Hades’, and so forth. Well, yes, it is dark, but there are advantages – for instance, if you see someone you’d rather not speak to you can always pretend you haven’t recognised them. There are of course the fields of asphodel. You can walk around in them if ...
My marriage was arranged. That’s the way things were done then: where there were weddings, there were arrangements. I don’t mean such things as bridal outfits, flowers, banquets, and music, though we had those too. Everyone has those, even now. The arrangements I mean were more devious than that. Under the old rules only important people had marria...
And so I was handed over to Odysseus, like a package of meat. A package of meat in a wrapping of gold, mind you. A sort of gilded blood pudding. But perhaps that is too crude a simile for you. Let me add that meat was highly valued among us – the aristocracy ate lots of it, meat, meat, meat, and all they ever did was roast it: ours was not an age o...
If I was a princess, with silver and gold, And loved by a hero, I’d never grow old: Oh, if a young hero came a-marrying me, I’d always be beautiful, happy, and free!
Then sail, my fine lady, on the billowing wave – The water below is as dark as the grave, And maybe you’ll sink in your little blue boat – It’s hope, and hope only, that keeps us afloat.
fetch and I carry, I hear and obey, It’s Yes sir and No ma’am the whole bleeding day; smile and I nod with a tear in my eye, make the soft beds in which others do lie.
Oh gods and oh prophets, please alter my life, And let a young hero take me for his wife! But no hero comes to me, early or late – Hard work is my destiny, death is my fate!
Then sail, my fine lady, on the billowing wave – The water below is as dark as the grave, And maybe you’ll sink in your little blue boat – It’s hope, and hope only, that keeps us afloat. The Maids all curtsy.
Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ix
The sea voyage to Ithaca was long and frightening, and also nauseating, or at least I found it so. I spent most of the time lying down or throwing up, sometimes both at once. Possibly I had an aversion to the ocean due to my childhood experience, or possibly the sea-god Poseidon was still annoyed by his failure to devour me. Thus I saw little of th...
Nine months he sailed the wine-red seas of his mother’s blood Out of the cave of dreaded Night, of sleep, Of troubling dreams he sailed In his frail dark boat, the boat of himself, Through the dangerous ocean of his vast mother he sailed From the distant cave where the threads of men’s lives are spun, Then measured, and then cut short By the Three ...
After a time I became more accustomed to my new home, although I had little authority within it, what with Eurycleia and my mother-in-law running all domestic matters and making all household decisions. Odysseus was in control of the kingdom, naturally, with his father, Laertes, sticking his oar in from time to time, either to dispute his son’s dec...
What can I tell you about the next ten years? Odysseus sailed away to Troy. I stayed in Ithaca. The sun rose, travelled across the sky, set. Only sometimes did I think of it as the flaming chariot of Helios. The moon did the same, changing from phase to phase. Only sometimes did I think of it as the silver boat of Artemis. Spring, summer, fall, and...
Oh wily Odysseus he set out from Troy, With his boat full of loot and his heart full of joy, For he was Athene’s own shiny-eyed boy, With his lies and his tricks and his thieving! His first port of call was the sweet Lotus shore Where we sailors did long to forget the foul war; But we soon were hauled off on the black ships once more, Although we w...
– Odysseus, that crafty old codger! To the Isle of the Dead then he next took his way, Filled a trench up with blood, held the spirits at bay, Till he learned what Teiresias, the seer, had to say, Odysseus, the artfullest dodger! The Sirens’ sweet singing then next he did brave, They attempted to lure him to a feathery grave, While tied to the mast...
I was wandering in the fields the other day, if it was a day, nibbling on some asphodel, when I ran into Antinous. He usually struts about in his finest cloak and his best robe, gold brooches and all, looking belligerent and haughty, and shouldering aside the other spirits; but as soon as he sees me he assumes the guise of his own corpse, with bloo...
Month by month the pressure on me increased. I spent whole days in my room – not the room I used to share with Odysseus, no, I couldn’t bear that, but in a room of my own in the women’s quarters. I would lie on my bed and weep, and wonder what on earth I should do. I certainly didn’t want to marry any of those mannerless young whelps. But my son, T...
Now began the worst period of my ordeal. I cried so much I thought I would turn into a river or a fountain, as in the old tales. No matter how much I prayed and offered up sacrifices and watched for omens, my husband still didn’t return. To add to my misery, Telemachus was now of an age to start ordering me around. I’d run the palace affairs almost...
Sleep is the only rest we get; It’s then we are at peace: We do not have to mop the floor And wipe away the grease. We are not chased around the hall And tumbled in the dirt By every dimwit nobleman Who wants a slice of skirt. And when we sleep we like to dream; We dream we are at sea, We sail the waves in golden boats, So happy, clean and free. In...
Telemachus avoided the ambush set for him, more by good luck than good planning, and reached home in safety. I welcomed him with tears of joy, and so did all the maids. I am sorry to say that my only son and I then had a big fight. ‘You have the brains of a newt!’ I raged. ‘How dare you take one of the boats and go off like that, without even askin...
Who is to say that prayers have any effect? On the other hand, who is to say they don’t? I picture the gods, diddling around on Olympus, wallowing in the nectar and ambrosia and the aroma of burning bones and fat, mischievous as a pack of ten-year-olds with a sick cat to play with and a lot of time on their hands. ‘Which prayer shall we answer toda...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
“With her succinct, thoughtfully elucidated A Short History of Myth, religious historian Karen Armstrong supplies the brilliant anchor work for a vast new series in which dozens of writers are refashioning myths ... The first two novels in the series, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad and Jeanette Winterson’s Weight, offer provocative mythical recasting...
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Jul 17, 2023 · I've always been haunted by the hanged maids and, in The Penelopiad, so is Penelope herself. The author of The Handmaid's Tale and The Blind Assassin presents a cycle of stories about Penelope, wife of Odysseus, through the eyes of the twelve maids hanged for disloyalty to Odysseus in his absence. Previews available in: English Portuguese.
- (7)
- 2005
- Margaret Atwood
The Penelopiad. Margaret Atwood. Canongate, 2005 - Mythology, Greek - 199 pages. Homer's Odyssey is not the only version of the story. Mythic material was originally oral, and also local -- a myth would be told one way in one place and quite differently in another. I have drawn on material other than the Odyssey, especially for the details of ...
- the University of Michigan
- Margaret Atwood
- Canongate, 2005
Oct 5, 2005 · The Penelopiad is narrated by Penelope after her death—in a present-day Hades where christian mythology has added pitchforked demons to the landscape, mind you—she retells her life story in an attempt to demystify the rumors and legends about her as well as explain the abrupt execution of her youngest, prettiest and most faithful maids ...
Oct 23, 2014 · The Penelopiad. Margaret Atwood. Faber & Faber, Oct 23, 2014 - Performing Arts - 112 pages. As portrayed in Homer's Odyssey, Penelope - wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy - has become a symbol of wifely duty and devotion, enduring twenty years of waiting when her husband goes to fight in the Trojan War.
