Annabel Lee - Edgar Allan Poe
Summary "Annabel Lee" is a lyrical poem by Edgar Allan Poe that tells the story of an intense, almost supernatural love shared between the ...
Summary
"Annabel Lee" is a lyrical poem by Edgar Allan Poe that tells the story of an intense, almost supernatural love shared between the narrator and a beautiful young woman named Annabel Lee. They lived by the sea and their love was so profound that even the seraphim (angels) in heaven grew envious. Due to this jealousy, a cold wind from a cloud killed Annabel Lee. The narrator, however, refuses to accept her death as the end of their love. He believes that their souls are eternally intertwined and continues to feel her presence everywhere, particularly by her tomb by the sounding sea, where he often lies beside her at night, convinced that their souls can never be truly separated.
Book Sections
Section 1
The poem begins with the narrator establishing the setting and the pure, intense love he shared with Annabel Lee. He states that they lived in a kingdom by the sea, and their love was a childhood love, but one of profound depth and devotion. He emphasizes that they loved with a love that was more than love, suggesting an almost spiritual or otherworldly connection from a young age.
| Character | Characteristics | Motivations |
|---|---|---|
| Narrator | Devoted, melancholic, obsessive, intensely romantic | To immortalize his love for Annabel Lee; to express his unending grief and conviction of their eternal bond. |
| Annabel Lee | Beautiful, beloved, pure, innocent, young | To reciprocate the narrator's love; represents an ideal, ethereal love. |
Section 2
The narrator attributes the tragic death of Annabel Lee to the envy of the celestial beings. He recounts that "the winged seraphs of Heaven / Coveted her and me." Because of this jealousy, a chill wind came out of a cloud by night, effectively killing Annabel Lee. She was then taken away from him by her "highborn kinsmen," who sealed her in a sepulchre by the sea. This section highlights the narrator's perception of external forces intervening in their perfect love.
Section 3
Despite the tragedy, the narrator's love remains unbroken. He refutes the idea that Annabel Lee's death could separate them. He states that "the angels, not half so happy in Heaven, / Went envying her and me." This reinforces his belief that their love was unique and superior to even celestial joy. He explicitly declares that neither angels above nor demons below the sea can ever dissever his soul from the soul of Annabel Lee, suggesting an eternal, unbreakable spiritual bond.
Section 4
The narrator concludes by describing his unwavering devotion and connection to Annabel Lee even after her death. He sees her eyes in the stars and feels her presence in the moonbeams. He describes spending his nights lying beside her in her sepulchre by the sea. This final section underscores his undying love, his refusal to let go, and his almost morbid dedication to their eternal union, physically and spiritually.
Literary Genre
Poetry, specifically a lyrical ballad, romantic elegy, and a gothic poem.
Author Facts
- Full Name: Edgar Allan Poe
- Born: January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Died: October 7, 1849, in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
- Legacy: Poe is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States and American literature as a whole, and he was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story. He is generally considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre and is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction.
- Personal Life: Poe's life was marked by tragedy and loss, including the early death of his mother, foster mother, and his young wife, Virginia Clemm, who died of tuberculosis. These personal experiences heavily influenced his themes of death, loss, and the enduring memory of the deceased.
Morale
The poem does not offer a traditional moral lesson in the sense of right or wrong. Instead, it explores themes of enduring love, the devastating impact of loss, and the narrator's refusal to accept separation, even by death. It conveys the idea that true love can transcend the physical world and persist as an obsession beyond the grave, even bordering on madness. It can be interpreted as a testament to the power of human connection against all odds, or as a cautionary tale about the consuming nature of grief and idealized love.
Curiosities
- Publication: "Annabel Lee" was the last complete poem written by Edgar Allan Poe, published posthumously on October 9, 1849, two days after his death.
- Inspiration: Many scholars believe the poem was written in memory of Poe's wife, Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, who died of tuberculosis two years earlier at the age of 24. Like Annabel Lee, Virginia was a young love for Poe, and her death deeply affected him.
- Rhyme Scheme and Meter: The poem employs a musical, melancholic tone achieved through its ballad-like structure, consistent use of end rhyme (often employing an ABCBBB or similar pattern), and anapestic meter, which gives it a rhythmic, almost lullaby-like quality despite its somber subject matter.
- Setting: The "kingdom by the sea" is intentionally vague, contributing to the timeless, fairytale-like quality of the tragic romance.
- Envy of Angels: The idea that angels in heaven could be envious of human love is a unique and gothic element, externalizing the cause of Annabel Lee's death to a malevolent supernatural force rather than natural illness, further emphasizing the narrator's idealized and almost paranoid perception of their love.
