Welcome to Poem of the Day – Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe.
“Annabel Lee” is a narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1849, shortly after the poet‘s death. The poem is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the supernatural, and is often considered one of Poe’s finest works. It tells the story of a young couple deeply in love, whose relationship is tragically cut short by death.
Content
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;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea,
But we loved with a love that was more than love—
I and my Annabel Lee—
With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven
Coveted her and me.
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsmen came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.
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;
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea—
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
Annabel Lee Poem Explanation
The poem recounts the tale of the speaker’s intense love for Annabel Lee, a beautiful maiden who lived in a kingdom by the sea. Their love is depicted as pure and idealized, transcending even the jealousy of the angels in heaven. The speaker suggests that their love was so profound and perfect that it elicited envy from the celestial beings, who were envious of the joy and happiness the couple shared.
As a result of this envy, Annabel Lee is taken from the speaker by a chilling wind, which causes her death. Despite her passing, the speaker’s love for her endures. He describes how he continues to dream of Annabel Lee and how their love remains untainted by death. The poem concludes with the speaker revealing that he lies down by Annabel Lee’s tomb by the sea, maintaining his deep connection with her even in death.
Themes and Analysis
Eternal and Idealized Love: Central to the poem is the theme of eternal and idealized love. The speaker’s love for Annabel Lee is portrayed as transcendent and perfect, untouched by the ordinary trials of life. This idealization is evident in the way their love is described as pure and unaffected by earthly concerns.
Jealousy and Envy: The poem explores the theme of jealousy and envy, particularly the jealousy of the angels who are envious of the couple’s happiness. This divine jealousy is presented as a force that disrupts and ultimately destroys the couple’s perfect love.
Death and Mourning: Death is a prominent theme in the poem. Annabel Lee’s death serves as a tragic twist, but the speaker’s enduring love persists despite her physical absence. The poem reflects on how death cannot sever the bond between true lovers, suggesting that love can transcend even the finality of death.
Supernatural Elements: Poe incorporates supernatural elements into the poem, enhancing its gothic and eerie atmosphere. The involvement of angels and the depiction of the sea as a living force contribute to the poem’s otherworldly quality, underscoring the theme of eternal love beyond the realm of the living.
The Power of Memory: The poem highlights the power of memory and its role in preserving love. The speaker’s dreams and constant thoughts about Annabel Lee indicate that love endures through memory and emotional connection, even after physical separation.
Structure and Form
Form: “Annabel Lee” is a narrative poem that tells a story through its verses. It is structured in six stanzas of varying lengths, with the final stanza being a longer and more conclusive reflection.
Rhyme Scheme: The poem employs a consistent AABABCB rhyme scheme throughout its stanzas. This repetitive rhyme pattern enhances the musical quality of the poem and reinforces its lyrical and mournful tone.
Meter: The poem primarily uses a combination of iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter. The variation in meter contributes to the poem’s rhythm and flow, creating a sense of melancholy and reflection. The rhythmic pattern complements the poem’s themes of love and loss.
Tone: The tone of “Annabel Lee” is both mournful and nostalgic. The speaker’s deep sense of loss is tempered by a romantic idealization of his love for Annabel Lee. The tone evokes a sense of tragic beauty and enduring devotion, despite the dark circumstances.
Significance
“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of eternal love, loss, and the supernatural. Through its narrative structure, musical rhyme scheme, and evocative imagery, the poem delves into themes of idealized love and the impact of death on human emotions. Poe’s use of supernatural elements and his portrayal of love as an unbreakable bond contribute to the poem’s enduring appeal and its status as one of his most memorable works. The speaker’s enduring devotion to Annabel Lee, even in death, underscores the power of love to transcend physical and temporal boundaries.