preview

An Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee Essay

Better Essays

An Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee

In life, as in death, Edgar Allan Poe evoked a feeling of sympathy from his readership. Those who knew him well considered him deep, mysterious and contemplative; thus, coupled with the copious tragedies he suffered throughout his life, especially the loss of his first wife Virginia, it is easy to understand how the author brings out the theme of Annabel Lee through personal/setting imagery, repetition of words and rhythm/rhyme. Annabel Lee honors the memory of Poe's deceased wife, Virginia. Throughout the poem, his use of personal imagery helps the reader to grasp the intense feelings of loss he continues to experience long after her passing. The setting imagery
is …show more content…

The only way he knew of to somewhat ease his pain was to put it into words; as such, Annabel Lee became the expression of his very soul. Its rhyme and rhythm encompassed a great many emotions, feelings, and desires that ranged from one spectrum to the other. Personal imagery helped to represent the author's rage, love, happiness, sorrow and despair, while the repetition of words served as an avenue for the author to release the inner struggles that could not be set free through any other means than verse. Truly, Annabel Lee was a catharsis to Poe's ailing heart. Almost without exception, all of Poe's literary works have a theme - Annabel Lee is no different in this manner. Without a theme, the poet would have no primary objective for the poem. One way to ascertain the theme is to question what the author was trying to relate to the reader.
By doing so, the answer may appear as obvious as the words that comprise the piece; yet others may escape immediate recognition, which would require further contemplation as to what the author is truly attempting to express.
A relevant phrase in poetry that relates to the overall concept of theme is that of the human condition, which refers -- quite logically -- to the definition of being human. Analyzing Poe's poem, one finds that the human condition is a regular consideration, in that humanity is constantly in question: Is Man strong or weak, good or evil, redeemed or condemned,

Get Access