In Countee Cullen's "What Do I Marvel", there is no opposition to the utilization of established references, all the more particularly, using Greek mythology. Lines 5-8 reference Greek myths Sisyphus and Tantalus. Sisyphus was penalized by rolling a stone up a slope and, after the stone moving down, needed to keep moving it back up in an never ending cycle (The Myth of Sisyphus).
Tantalus is tormented with endless discipline of being compelled to remain in a lake with fruit however, not having the capacity to fulfill his thirst and appetite (Greek Myths). These two references add to the ballad in various ways. Cullen utilizes Tantalus as a correlation with himself in light of the fact that paying little respect to the amount he thinks of,
Tantalus is tormented with endless discipline of being compelled to remain in a lake with fruit however, not having the capacity to fulfill his thirst and appetite (Greek Myths). These two references add to the ballad in various ways. Cullen utilizes Tantalus as a correlation with himself in light of the fact that paying little respect to the amount he thinks of,