An Analysis Of Edgar Allen Poe's Annabel Lee

Edgar Allan Poe lived during the literary and musical Romantic Era, where intense emotions were the focus of both media. Yet, composers borrowed heavily from their poetic counterparts, “Song composers would interpret a poem, translating its mood, atmosphere, and imagery into music. They created a vocal melody that was musically satisfying and perfectly molded to the text. Important words were emphasized by stressed tones or melodic climaxes.” (Kamien 217). Even today, we still see many songwriters using literature to write music. In Poe’s Annabel Lee, we have a sort of sing-song feel, tempting people to sing along to it. One such song of the same name takes the poem for what it is and adapts it into a song. The song follows the anapestic meter
The song hits the mark when emulating the tone of the poem. The song starts off as if a child is telling a story, though the child part may be because of the singer’s high pitched voice. This child-like sound adds a sense of innocence, complementing to poem when the narrator states that he and Annabel Lee were children whose love was pure. It then takes gloomy a turn when addressing the death of Annabel Lee: this can especially be heard in the chorus, which is sung in a slower, lower tone and then a sorrowful, pleading tone. The poem and the song take an uplifting turn when the narrator/singer claim that nothing would ever stand between their love. The singer speeds up and loudens her voice to emulate the resolve of the narrator. There is a point in the poem where words are italicized as they are meant to be emphasized, “I was a child and she was a child” (Poe 609) that the singer makes sure to stress, as well. She also does something interesting with the connotations of words in a poetic way: heightening her voice in “angels in heaven above” (Poe 610) and almost growling in “the demons down under the sea” (Poe 610). The song ends with a tone of finality, the narrator lies down by her side, avowing his bond with Annabel and giving their story a
(Poe 609)
The song also follows this structure for the most part, only changing things here or there for dramatic effect, “But our love [pause] it was stronger by far than the love” (Psyche Corporation). These added pauses help to establish what the narrator is trying to say, believing that the love he and Annabel share is the strongest of all love: even those who are older and wiser. This drives home one of the main themes of the poem, the strength of innocent love and the resolve of the narrator. All in all, the song only changes things to aid in the interpretation of the poem. By not straying too far away from the poems structure, the song maintains the original theme and mood while also using singing techniques to drive home the meaning of the poem. Rhythm, atmosphere, and refrains in the song remain true to the poem, building a world that is very similar to Poe’s: dark and melancholy. And just like many of Poe’s works, this song is hauntingly beautiful, bringing into mind a picture of a dark seaside kingdom where a marble sepulcher watches over the crashing