Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Bells' Poetry Analysis

Imagery and Sound

• The poem "The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe uses vivid imagery and onomatopoeia to describe the sounds of bells and their effects on the human psyche.
• The sounds of the bells evoke different emotions and reactions in people, ranging from joy and happiness to fear and terror.

Section I: Sledge Bells

• The poem starts with a description of sledge bells, which are "Silver bells" that "foretell" a world of merriment.
• The bells "tinkle, tinkle, tinkle" in the icy air of night, creating a sense of delight and wonder.

Section II: Wedding Bells

• The second section describes "Golden bells" that "foretell" a world of happiness and harmony.
• The bells "ring out their delight" and produce a "liquid ditty" that floats through the air, evoking a sense of joy and celebration.

Section III: Alarum Bells

• The third section describes "Brazen bells" that "tell a tale of terror" and evoke a sense of fear and alarm.
• The bells "scream out their affright" in the startled ear of night, creating a sense of anxiety and distress.

Section IV: Iron Bells

• The final section describes "Iron bells" that evoke a sense of solemnity and menace.
• The bells toll monotonously, producing a "melancholy menace" that makes people shiver with affright.

Figurative Language

• Poe uses figurative language throughout the poem, including metaphor (e.g., "the bells...tell a tale of terror"), personification (e.g., "the bells...shiver with affright"), and onomatopoeia (e.g., "tinkle, tinkle, tinkle").
• The use of alliteration and assonance adds to the musical quality of the poem, mirroring the sounds of the bells.

Themes

• The poem explores the emotional effects of sound on the human psyche, highlighting the power of bells to evoke different emotions and reactions.
• The poem also touches on themes of joy, happiness, fear, and terror, demonstrating the range of human emotions.