Ode. An ode is a lofty lyric poem on a serious theme. The form is adapted from Greek drama. As you read, determine the theme of Dryden’s ode.
Allusion. An allusion is a rhetorical technique in which reference is made to a person, event, object, or work from history or literature.
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“A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day” celebrates St. Cecilia, a Roman noble martyred circa ad 230. Her feast day is November 22. In addition to evangelizing and performing miracles, she is believed to have invented the organ, a musical instrument whose power and versatility was utterly beyond comparison until the development of electronic synthesizers and amplifiers in the present century; hence, she is the patron saint of music and musicians. In Dryden’s time, St. Cecilia’s feast day was a religious holiday in celebration of music. This poem was set to music by G. B. Draghi and performed at the St. Cecilia’s Day festival of 1687, but G. F. Handel’s (1685–1759) later setting is now used almost exclusively.
Make a chart identifying the allusions in this poem. An example has been done for you.
Write about the kind of music you like and why you like to listen to or create music.
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