Poetry Essay - Annabel Lee
Ha Nguyen
Instructor: D. Aleksandrova
English 102
Poetry Essay
June 17, 2013
My Beloved - Annabel Lee
“Annabel Lee” was the last poem that Poe composed, and was first published in November, 1849, a month or so after his death. Poe once said, “The death of a beautiful woman is the most poetic topic in the world”, that’s “Annabel Lee.” The poem is about a beautiful, but painful memory. The speaker of the poem is remembering his long-lost love, Annabel Lee. The narrator, who fell in love with Annabel Lee when they were young, has a love for her so strong that even angels are envious. He retains his love for her even after her death. The poem has since become one of Poe’s most popular works.
Poe begins the poem by painting a romantic and fairy tale story, telling us that the story we are about to hear happened “many a year ago”. Akin to a fairy story, the author takes us to a kingdom by the sea that existed in the remote past, when both he and his beloved Annabel Lee were.
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
In stanza two, Poe tells us about the mature love he and Annabel Lee share, even though they are just children. By using climax, which is a Poe specialty, the story takes a dark turn when the angels become jealous of their love and result in killing Annabel Lee. Poe gives us a feeling their love was not welcomed by all. He blames her death on the angles because they envied her – his beloved. But Poe is so sure of their love, saying it is stronger than ‘those who were older then we” and “far wiser than we.” The author paints a picture of Annabel Lee who is gentle and persistent in her love, and she has complex emotion that may darken or complicate her love. The third stanza adds more emotion by stressing the tragic and irreversible nature of her death. Poe’s use of repetition, speaks intimately with the voiceless dead as well as with the
Instructor: D. Aleksandrova
English 102
Poetry Essay
June 17, 2013
My Beloved - Annabel Lee
“Annabel Lee” was the last poem that Poe composed, and was first published in November, 1849, a month or so after his death. Poe once said, “The death of a beautiful woman is the most poetic topic in the world”, that’s “Annabel Lee.” The poem is about a beautiful, but painful memory. The speaker of the poem is remembering his long-lost love, Annabel Lee. The narrator, who fell in love with Annabel Lee when they were young, has a love for her so strong that even angels are envious. He retains his love for her even after her death. The poem has since become one of Poe’s most popular works.
Poe begins the poem by painting a romantic and fairy tale story, telling us that the story we are about to hear happened “many a year ago”. Akin to a fairy story, the author takes us to a kingdom by the sea that existed in the remote past, when both he and his beloved Annabel Lee were.
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
In stanza two, Poe tells us about the mature love he and Annabel Lee share, even though they are just children. By using climax, which is a Poe specialty, the story takes a dark turn when the angels become jealous of their love and result in killing Annabel Lee. Poe gives us a feeling their love was not welcomed by all. He blames her death on the angles because they envied her – his beloved. But Poe is so sure of their love, saying it is stronger than ‘those who were older then we” and “far wiser than we.” The author paints a picture of Annabel Lee who is gentle and persistent in her love, and she has complex emotion that may darken or complicate her love. The third stanza adds more emotion by stressing the tragic and irreversible nature of her death. Poe’s use of repetition, speaks intimately with the voiceless dead as well as with the