Annabel Lee Analysis PDF

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe Presented by : Group 8  Topic OVERVIEW AUTHOR'S BACKGROUND POEM'S BACKSTORY THE TEXT LITERARY ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION AUTHOR'S Background  About AUTHOR Edgar Allan Poe (born January 19, 1809, Boston, Massachusetts, U....

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe Presented by : Group 8  Topic OVERVIEW AUTHOR'S BACKGROUND POEM'S BACKSTORY THE TEXT LITERARY ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION AUTHOR'S Background  About AUTHOR Edgar Allan Poe (born January 19, 1809, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.—died October 7, 1849, Baltimore, Maryland) was an American short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor who is famous for his cultivation of mystery and the macabre. His tale “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1841) initiated the modern detective story, and the atmosphere in his tales of horror is unrivaled in American fiction. His “The Raven” (1845) numbers among the best-known poems in the national literature.  About AUTHOR Poe was the son of the English-born actress Elizabeth Arnold Poe and David Poe, Jr., an actor from Baltimore. After his mother died in Richmond, Virginia, in 1811, he was taken into the home of John Allan, a Richmond merchant (presumably his godfather), and of his childless wife. He was later taken to Scotland and England (1815–20), where he was given a classical education that was continued in Richmond. For 11 months in 1826 he attended the University of Virginia, but his gambling losses at the university so incensed his guardian that he refused to let him continue, and Poe returned to Richmond to find his sweetheart, (Sarah) Elmira Royster, engaged. He went to Boston, where in 1827 he published a pamphlet of youthful Byronic poems, Tamerlane, and Other Poems.  About AUTHOR Poverty forced him to join the army under the name of Edgar A. Perry, but, on the death of Poe’s foster mother, John Allan purchased his release from the army and helped him get an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Before going, Poe published a new volume at Baltimore, Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems (1829). He successfully sought expulsion from the academy, where he was absent from all drills and classes for a week. He proceeded to New York City and brought out a volume of Poems, containing several masterpieces, some showing the influence of John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  About AUTHOR Poe then returned to Baltimore, where he began to write stories. In 1833 his “MS. Found in a Bottle” won $50 from a Baltimore weekly, and by 1835 he was in Richmond as editor of the Southern Literary Messenger. There he made a name as a critical reviewer and married his young cousin Virginia Clemm, who was only 13. Poe seems to have been an affectionate husband and son-in-law. Poe was dismissed from his job in Richmond, apparently for drinking, and went to New York City. Drinking was in fact to be the bane of his life. To talk well in a large company he needed a slight stimulant, but a glass of sherry might start him on a spree; and, although he rarely succumbed to intoxication, he was often seen in public when he did. This gave rise to the conjecture that Poe was addicted to opiates, but according to medical testimony he had a brain lesion BACKSTORY OF Annabel Lee  About POEM Annabel Lee was the last complete poem of Edgar Allan Poe and was published in the New York Tribune two days following his death on October 9, 1849. The poem centers on one of Poe’s recurrent themes — the death of a beautiful, young, and much loved woman. The narrator, who fell in love with Annabel Lee when they were young, believes that their love was so powerful that angels became envious and caused her death. He continues to love her even after her death and is certain they will be reunited. It is believed that Annabel Lee was written by Poe in memory of his wife Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 24 a few years earlier. Poe was deeply affected by her death. He married her when she was only 13 (he was 27) and lived with her for 11 years. So he was distraught by the loss of his emotional anchor, fell into a deep depression, and passed away in October 1849. Text Literary Analysis  Form & STRUCTURE "Annabel Lee" consists of six stanzas, three with six lines, one with seven, and two with eight, with the rhyme pattern differing slightly in each one. Though it is not technically a ballad, Poe referred to it as one. Like a ballad, the poem uses repetition of words and phrases purposely to create its mournful effect.  Mood In "Annabel Lee," Poe begins with a melancholy mood that turns horrific by the end of the poem. In the early stanzas, Poe creates this mood with his description of Annabel Lee as a maiden the reader may know from a "kingdom by the sea." The speaker's memories of Annabel Lee as beautiful and loving deepen this melancholy mood as it is soon revealed that Annabel Lee has died of a wind that is responsible for "chilling and killing" her. The mood begins to shift here, building toward the dark, horrifying mood of Annabel Lee's tomb, where the speaker now spends his nights.  Point of VIEW The poem “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe is told from a first-person point of view. The speaker is a young man who is still grieving the death of his beloved, Annabel Lee. The speaker's use of pronouns like "I," "me," and "my" indicate that he is the one telling the story.  Theme The poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe explores the theme of eternal love that transcends death, as the speaker's love for Annabel Lee persists even after her passing. The narrator believes that their love is so strong that it can withstand death, emphasizing the enduring power of true love.  Symbolism Annabel Lee Represents true and pure love, and is a symbol for Poe's dead wife, Virginia Poe. The sea Represents loneliness, coldness, and emptiness. The sea wind kills Annabel Lee. The tomb Symbolizes Annabel Lee's tragic death, but also the speaker's desire for their love to live on.  Symbolism The kingdom Might symbolize tyranny and cruelty. The angels Represent a force that stops the speaker and Annabel Lee from continuing their romance. The wind Can be interpreted as a literal or figurative force that kills Annabel Lee.  Figurative LANGUAGE Poe uses figurative language, such as alliteration, allusion, assonance, hyperbole, imagery, and personification, to bring the story to life.  Poem Interpretation  Group's INTERPRETATION Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Annabel Lee" is a hauntingly romantic tale of eternal love. The speaker recounts his deep love for Annabel Lee, which began in their youth in a "kingdom by the sea." Their love is so profound that even the angels envy it. This jealousy, the speaker believes, causes Annabel Lee's untimely death, as a chilling wind from heaven takes her life. Despite her death, the speaker insists their souls are forever entwined, and his love for her remains unbroken.  Group's INTERPRETATION He feels her presence constantly and dreams of her beauty, finding solace in their eternal connection. Poe uses rich imagery of the sea and celestial elements to emphasize the transcendent nature of their love. The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory. It also reflects Poe’s characteristic melancholy and his fixation on the death of a beloved. Ultimately, "Annabel Lee" portrays love as eternal, surviving even the most tragic circumstances.  Moral VALUES The moral values of this poetry is particularly about love, devotion, and resilience. It highlights the idea that true love is eternal, transcending even death and the physical separation it causes. The poem teaches the importance of cherishing deep connections, showing that love can bring meaning and purpose to life. It also warns of the destructive power of envy, as the angels' jealousy led to Annabel Lee's death, reminding readers to celebrate others' happiness instead of undermining it. Finally, the speaker’s unwavering commitment to Annabel Lee illustrates the value of loyalty and the enduring strength of emotional bonds.