"Annabel Lee" is the last complete poem^[1] composed by American author Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe (January 19 1809 – October 7 1849 was an American poet, short-story Writer, editor and Literary critic, Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of Literature or Information &ndash the activity of making information available for public view Events November 14 - A public festival is held in Denmark to celebrate the 70th birthday of Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger La Tribune des Peuples Edgar Allan Poe (January 19 1809 – October 7 1849 was an American poet, short-story Writer, editor and Literary critic, Like many of Poe's poems, it explores the theme of the death of a beautiful woman. ^[2] The narrator, who fell in love with Annabel Lee when they were young, has a love for her so strong that even angels are jealous. He retains his love for her even after her death. There has been debate over who, if anyone, was the inspiration for "Annabel Lee. " Though many women have been suggested, Poe's wife Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe is one of the more credible candidates. Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe (born Virginia Eliza Clemm) (August 22 1822 &ndash January 30 1847 was the wife of Edgar Allan Poe. Written in 1849, it was not published until shortly after Poe's death that same year. Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Synopsis

The poem's narrator describes his love for Annabel Lee, which began many years ago in an unnamed "kingdom by the sea. " Though they were young, their love for one another burned with such an intensity that angels became jealous. For that reason, the narrator believes, she was killed. Even so, their love is strong enough that it extends beyond the grave and the narrator believes their two souls are still entwined. Every night, he dreams of Annabel Lee and sees the brightness of her eyes in the stars. He admits that every night he lies down by her side in her tomb by the sea.

Analysis

Like many other Poe poems including "The Raven," "Ulalume," and "To One in Paradise," "Annabel Lee" follows Poe's favorite theme: the death of a beautiful woman,^[2] which Poe called "the most poetical topic in the world. " The Raven " is a narrative poem by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in January 1845 "Ulalume" is a Poem written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1847. This article lists all known poems by American author and critic Edgar Allan Poe ( January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) "^[3] Also like women in many other works by Poe, she is struck with illness and marries young. ^[4] The poem focuses on an ideal love which is unusually strong. In fact, the narrator's actions show that he not only loves Annabel Lee, but he worships her, something he can only do after her death. ^[5] The narrator admits that he and Annabel Lee were both children when they fell in love, but his explanation that angels murdered her is in itself childish, suggesting he has not grown up much since then. ^[6] His repetition of this assertion suggests he is trying to rationalize his own excessive feelings of loss. ^[6]

Unlike "The Raven," in which the narrator believes he will "nevermore" be reunited with his love, "Annabel Lee" says the two will be together again, as not even demons "can ever dissever" their souls.

Poetic 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. In Poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger Poem. In modern poetry the term is often equivalent with Strophe; in popular vocal music a stanza is This article is about the poetic technique For the form of ice see Rime ice. Its ballad-like repetition of words and phrases purposely create its mournful effect. A ballad is a Poem usually set to Music; thus it often is a story told in a Song. ^[2] Though it is not technically a ballad, Poe referred to it as one. ^[7] The name Annabel Lee emphasizes the letter "L," a frequent device in Poe's female characters such as "Eulalie," "Lenore," and "Ulalume. L is the twelfth letter of the Latin alphabet. Its name in English is el or occasionally ell (ɛl " Eulalie," or " Eulalie - A Song," is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the July 1845 issue of the The American " Lenore " is a Poem by the American author Edgar Allan Poe. "Ulalume" is a Poem written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1847. "^[8]

There is debate on the last line of the poem. The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore, Maryland has identified 11 different versions of the poem that were published between 1849 and 1850. ^[9] However, the biggest variation is in the final line:

Original manuscript – In her tomb by the side of the sea

Alternative version – In her tomb by the sounding sea

Inspiration

Poe's wife Virginia is often assumed to be the inspiration for "Annabel Lee. "

It is unclear to whom the eponymous character Annabel Lee is referring. ^[10] Biographers and critics often suggest Poe's frequent use of the "death of a beautiful woman" theme stems from the repeated loss of women throughout his own life, including his mother Eliza Poe and his foster mother Frances Allan. Elizabeth Arnold Poe (1787–1811 was a English -born American actress and the mother of the American author Edgar Allan Poe. ^[11] Biographers often interpret that "Annabel Lee" was written for Poe's wife Virginia, who had died two years prior, as was suggested by poet Frances Sargent Osgood, though Osgood is herself a candidate for the poem's inspiration. Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe (born Virginia Eliza Clemm) (August 22 1822 &ndash January 30 1847 was the wife of Edgar Allan Poe. Frances Sargent Osgood ( Née Locke (June 18 1811 – May 12 1850 was an American poet and one of the most popular women writers during her time ^[10] A strong case can be made for Poe's wife Virginia: she was the one he loved as a child, and the only one that had been his bride, and the only one that had died. ^[12] Autobiographical readings of the poem have also been used to support the theory that Virginia and Poe never consummated their marriage, as "Annabel Lee" was a "maiden. "^[13] Critics, including T.O. Mabbott, believed that Annabel Lee was merely the product of Poe's gloomy imagination and that Annabel Lee was no real person in particular. Thomas Ollive Mabbott ( July 6, 1898 – May 28, 1968) was an American professor and scholar of Literature, perhaps best A childhood sweetheart of Poe's named Sarah Elmira Royster believed the poem was written with her in mind^[14] and that Poe himself said so. Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton (1810 - 1888 was a childhood sweetheart of Edgar Allan Poe who would become engaged to him right before his death in 1849 ^[15] Sarah Helen Whitman and Sarah Anna Lewis also claimed to have inspired the poem. Early life She was born in Providence Rhode Island on January 19 1803 - the same day as Poe though a few years before him ^[16]

Local legend in Charleston, South Carolina tells the story of a sailor who met a woman named Annabel Lee. Her father disapproved of the pairing and the two met privately in a graveyard before the sailor's time stationed in Charleston was up. While away, he heard of Annabel's death from yellow fever, but her father would not allow him at the funeral. Yellow fever (also called yellow jack, black vomit or sometimes American Plague) is an acute viral disease Because he did not know her exact burial location, he instead kept vigil in the cemetery where they had often secretly met. There is no evidence that Edgar Allan Poe had heard of this legend, but locals insist it was his inspiration. ^[17]

Publication history

"Annabel Lee" was likely composed in May 1849. ^[16] Poe took steps to ensure the poem would be seen in print. He gave a copy to Rufus Wilmot Griswold, his literary executor and personal rival, gave another copy to John Thompson to repay a $5 debt, and sold a copy to Sartain's Union Magazine for publication. Rufus Wilmot Griswold (February 13 1812 – August 27 1857 was an American anthologist, editor, Poet, and Critic. John Sartain ( 24 October, 1808 in London, England - 25 October 1897 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ^[12] Though Sartain's was the first authorized printing in January 1850, Griswold was the first to publish it on October 9, 1849, after Poe's death as part of his obituary of Poe in the New York Daily Tribune. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common See also Edgar Allan Poe The death of Edgar Allan Poe on October 7 1849 has remained mysterious the circumstances leading up to it are uncertain and the cause of death Thompson had it published in the Southern Literary Messenger in November 1849. The Southern Literary Messenger was a Periodical published in Richmond, Virginia, from 1834 until June 1864. ^[12]

Influence

"Annabel Lee" was an inspiration for Vladimir Nabokov, especially for his novel Lolita (1955). This page is about the novelist For his father the politician see Vladimir Dmitrievich Nabokov. Lolita (1955 is a Novel by Vladimir Nabokov, first written in English and published in 1955 in Paris, later translated by the author Originally, Nabokov titled the novel The Kingdom by the Sea. ^[18]

Stevie Nicks wrote a song called "Annabel Lee," the lyrics of which are a direct transposition of Poe's poem. Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks (born on May 26 1948 in Phoenix Arizona) is an American Singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood It was never officially released but the demo was leaked and can be found on some Stevie Nicks fan sites. ^[19]

See also

• Poems by Edgar Allan Poe

References

External links

• Publication history at the Edgar Allan Poe Society
• Audio - hear the poem read