The Centaur May Swenson Analysis
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May Swenson conveys a message about society in “The Centaur” by writing from the point of view of a young girl. Like a centaur, who is half man and half horse, the speaker finds herself caught between two worlds- wanting to be free but expected to be submissive. Swenson’s easy language as well as the frequent use of enjambment creates a playful and excited atmosphere, which help in relating her message to the reader. Throughout the poem, the speaker is constantly compared to a horse. “My head and my neck were mine,/ yet they were shaped like a horse” (27-28). Horses are often associated with positive characteristics like strength and intelligence. By connecting the speaker to the horse, Swenson attributes all these traits to her, which