Poem Ullalume Literary Devices

The narrator in the poem Ulalume expresses the nightmarish terrors of obsession particularly in the second stanza, which utilises an epic simile in order to reveal the narrators feelings in the past and present. Physical images are used such as “my heart was volcanic,” to express feelings and emotions that cannot be described using words, reinforcing the idea that this stanza is an epic simile. Furthermore like classical poetry it makes references to Greek mythology as evident with “psyche,” which was the Greek Goddess of soul, this is used to perhaps express how the narrator’s soul cannot be described using images on earth therefore raising it to a position of divinity. This ties in with the theme that the stars in the poem dictate the narrator’s
fate. The narrator’s feelings are described in the past with the metaphor “ my heart was volcanic,” which connotes images of heat and fire, therefore expressing how the narrator had a burning passion and were full of life in the past.
This is significant as these images of heat and life contrast dark and sombre images such as the “ dim lake,” and ultimately show a contrasts between life and death, the effect of this is that it emphasises how the narrator and perhaps Poe where changed after experiencing the death of a loved one. Death is symbolised through the image of an “alley Titanic, of cypress,” which could be interpreted as physically representing the nightmarish terrors hidden in the narrators limbic region in the form of purgatory. This image is oppressing as it describes how the narrator is submersed in an alley of trees, which emphasises that there is only one way to go, therefore creating a sense of foreboding, as death is inevitable. Also cypress trees are specifically mentioned as they link to death due to the fact that coffins are made from this type of wood. Nick Dear’s adaptation of Frankenstein can link to Ulalume by Poe due to the similar technique of contrasting Frankenstein’s feelings through a literary platform of
setting. The Creatures emotions are projected by the conceit of his surroundings as evident with “ smoggy and strange ,” which creates an image for the reader of him being disorientated in a hazy and industrial town. His emotions are mirrored from this image due to him being described as “lost and confused,” therefore showing the technique of pathetic fallacy. Images of corruption are also evident with a prostitute “being beaten up,” therefore portraying the Creature’s loss of innocence. However these images of corruption are contrasted when the Creature encounters the countryside, this is evident with “Sunlight plays through the leaves,” which connotes innocence. This is mirrored with the Creatures happy and childlike emotions such as “ He laughs,” which further conveys innocence due to his childlike reactions to the setting. This is significant however as the setting doesn’t only reveal the Creature’s emotions but also the nightmarish terrors of obsession shared by society over the progression of the industrial revolution from 1760 onwards. Therefore, this links to Ulalume by Poe as the past and present are contrasted with the pastoral images of innocence during the Golden Age to the moral corruption in the manmade world during the industrial revolution.