An Ancient Gesture

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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An Ancient Gesture Questions and Answers

In the poem “An Ancient Gesture,” what do the speaker and Penelope have in common?

How do the depictions of grief in The Odyssey and "An Ancient Gesture" develop a universal theme? How does Millay use the story of Penelope and Odysseus to convey a modern theme?

What advice do you think Penelope would give to the speaker of "An Ancient Gesture"?

According to the speaker in "An Ancient Gesture," what caused Penelope to employ this gesture?

Why is the title "An Ancient Gesture" effective?

What literary devices are used in the poem "An Ancient Gesture"?

What questions about the speaker are left unanswered in "An Ancient Gesture"?

Is there a metaphor in "An Ancient Gesture" by Edna St. Vincent Millay?