I need help paraphrasing Canto I by Ezra Pound. I have to write it in paragraph form and I can't leave anything out. I'm having trouble with a few lines.
"And then went down to the ship,
Set keel to breakers, forth on the godly sea, and"
"Circe's this craft, the trim-coifed goddess"
"Covered with close-webbed mist, unpierced ever
With glitter of sun-rays
Nor with stars stretched, nor looking back from heaven
Swartest night stretched over wretched men there."
"Here did they rites, Perimedes and Eurylochus,"
"Then prayed I many a prayer to the sickly death's-head;"
"Circe's this craft, the trim-coifed goddess"
Check this site about Circe
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/circe.html
"Here did they rites, Perimedes and Eurylochus,"
Check a definition of "rites." Who were Perimedes and Eurylochus?
But what does "trim-coifed" mean?
To paraphrase the lines mentioned from Canto I by Ezra Pound, you can break down the meaning and rephrase them in your own words. Here are some possible paraphrases for each line:
1. "And then they descended to the ship,
Lowered the vessel's keel into the crashing waves, and"
Explanation: They made their way to the ship, put its keel in the rough waters, and embarked on their journey.
2. "This ship belonged to Circe, the well-groomed goddess"
Explanation: The vessel they were on was owned by Circe, a goddess known for her tidiness.
3. "Covered in a dense mist that never diffused
Any glimmers of sunlight
Or displayed any stars above,
As if the darkest night overshadowed those unfortunate men there."
Explanation: The ship was enveloped in a thick mist that prevented any sunlight or starlight from penetrating, making it appear as if the darkest night was cast upon those poor souls.
4. "At this place, Perimedes and Eurylochus performed rituals,"
Explanation: In this location, Perimedes and Eurylochus conducted certain ceremonies or observances.
5. "Then I fervently prayed to the grim, deathly specter;"
Explanation: Afterwards, I proceeded to offer numerous prayers to the morbid representation of death.