Sharon Old's 'Ode to the Hymen': An Analysis on the Importance and Necessity of Praising the Hymen

Abstract

Sharon Olds published in 2016 Odes, a work in which she explores, amongst
other things, both female and male bodies, collecting poems such as “Ode to the Hymen”,
“Ode to the Clitoris”, “Ode to the Penis” or “Ode to the Vagina”. In this paper I will only
study the poem „Ode to the Hymen‟, primarily for its particularity, and I will prove that
Sharon Old‟s appreciation of the hymen is important, relevant and necessary. To help me in
my argument firstly I will briefly comment Gaius Valerius Catullus‟ “Carmen 62”
epithalamium in order to appreciate the evolution concerning a woman‟s relationship with
her hymen. Afterwards, I will analyse “Ode to the hymen” in close detail, establishing a
comparison with Catullus‟ ode to prove the necessity of praising the hymen.