Demeter's Prayer to Hades Analysis

As you can probably tell, there's not much form or meter happening in "Demeter's Prayer to Hades." That's because it's written in free verse, or poetry without set rhyme scheme or form. So, w...

We know from the title that our speaker is Demeter, goddess of agriculture, mother to Persephone and wife to Zeus. We also know, after spending a moment or two in the poem, that she isn't too happy...

The world of Greek mythology is one where anything can happen, and often does. Gods and goddesses, who represent everything from agriculture to beauty to the sea, roam far and wide, causing drama...

This is not a poem with too many sonic tricks or poetic devices, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a sound. Just read the following aloud, for some examples:To understand each desire has an edg...

According to Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of agriculture. Her daughter, Persephone, is beautiful, of course, and this attracts the attention of Persephone's uncle Hades, god of t...

The poem might seem to be an angry note between mythological gods, but that doesn't mean the sentiments inside it don't apply to the rest of us. Rita Dove uses these myths to get as some universal...

The wordplay might not be too tricky, and there aren't any complicated rhythm or rhyme schemes, but that doesn't mean the poem is a total breeze. Dove's allusions to classical Greek mythology will...

Breaking new ground is in her genes. Dove's father was one of the first African American chemists in the tire industry. (Source.) An early bloomer, Rita was the youngest person to be named Poet La...

Though those ancient Greeks told a dirty story or two, you won't find any of that here. This one is about as G-rated as you can get.