An Analysis of Edgar Allan Poes Annabel Lee Essay -- Annabel Lee Essa

An Analysis  of  Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee In life, as in death, Edgar Allan Poe evoked a feeling of sympathy from his readership.   Those who knew him well considered him deep, mysterious and contemplative; thus, coupled with the copious tragedies he suffered throughout his life, especially the loss of his first wife Virginia, it is easy to understand how the author brings out the theme of Annabel Lee through personal/setting imagery, repetition of words and rhythm/rhyme.   Annabel Lee honors the memory of Poe's deceased wife, Virginia.   Throughout the poem, his use of personal imagery helps the reader to grasp the intense feelings of loss he continues to experience long after her passing.   The setting imagery is critical to this particular literary piece, in that it is through setting that one gains a significantly better realization of his anguish.   A passage from what came to be the last poem written by Poe before his death illustrates his torment: "The angels, not half so happy in heaven, went envying her and me- Yes! - That was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea) That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee. "But our love it was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we- Of many far wiser than we- And neither the angels in heaven above, Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee." No matter his efforts, Poe just could not seem to shake the loss of Virginia.   He especially had difficulty forgetting her final days, watching her cough up blood and slowly dies of tuberculosis.   He could not even afford a blanket or handful of coal with wh... ...nd but elusive subtleties.   To be sure, Poe was a writer who incorporated a significant amount of blatancy while also implying considerable obscurity. This dichotomy has served to be the cornerstone of the author's works, which have successfully stood the test of time.   "And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea, In her tomb by the sounding sea."   Without question, Annabel Lee provides a unique insight into the relationships among theme, rhythm and imagery.   Also evident within the very essence of the story is the manner in which it illustrates the compassion inherent within such a master composer as the troubled Edgar Allan Poe. Works Cited: Poe, Edgar Allan. ?Annabel Lee.? The Book of Living Verse. Ed. Louis Untermeyer. New York: Harcourt, 1939.