Comparison and Contrast of the Poems For Annie and Annabel Lee Written by Edgar Allen Poe - Essay Example

Compare and Contrast the Poems Written by Edgar Allen Poe, "For Annie" , and "Annabel Lee Introduction The two poems by Poe are similar in the manner in which they address the loss of their beloved one. It must be noted that Poe wrote the poems to show affection and love for Annie and Annabel. The two names are similar, and Annie is a short from of Annabel. The poems are similar in terms of setting, gothic elements, and literary skills. The paper analyzes the two poems and makes conclusions. Annabel Lee is the last poem Edgar Poe wrote before his death. The poem is about Poes wife and died two years before Poe met his death. Poe reflects about how her wife has just died in her youth and yet she was so glamorous and flashy. That is confirmed by the several time the author refers to Annabel as an oval portrait. Poe wrote most of his poems during the Romantic era. During that time, the artists referred to adulthood as an era of corruption of pure childhood instincts. Poe relates that to Annabel arguing that her love was gentle and more persistent something he could not get from an adult wife. Poe is also known for his Gothic settings and presentation of his artists work. The setting of the poem indicates Gothic elements. That can be confirmed by the kind of the mysterious location of the narrator as well as the loneliness described in the poem. Similar to Poes previous works, horrific scenes are also present in the poem. For example, we read about the sepulcher image by the sea. The sea is also attached to the concept of death and decay. All these are elements that depict gothic settings. The manner in which Poe blames himself for Annabels youthful death is also something that is worth noting regarding Poes literary skills. Poe has also written about many women and something that is notable is that all the women he has written about have a name that begins with letter L. in addition, the poem also contain musical rhythm that can be shown by the repetition of the word, "of the beautiful Annabel Lee" and other words. The poem also contains a rhyme scheme that emphasizes words like me, Lee, and sea. That concept confirms that the poem assumes a songlike sound. “For Annie" is also Poes poem that has a mirror reflection. One can choose to analyze the poem in two different ways. The first way is by accepting that the narrator has survived the disease and were alive. That can be illustrated by the first stanza when the narrator says, "the danger is past… And the fever called living has been conquered" . On the other hand, the poem can be analyzed from the concept that the main protagonist is dead but still reflecting on the incidences that led to committing suicide. The narrator reflects on how he drunk poison arguably to quench his thirst. The narrator argues that he committed suicide because his soul mate Annie who drowned in the bath is rocking him. However, this paper chooses to analyze the paper from the narrators death point of view. Poe wrote the poem For Annie to Nancy Richmond of Lowell, who he describes as Annie. Richmond was married, but Poe enjoyed an adulterous platonic complicated relationship with her. It is for this reason that he chooses to write a poem to her. The narrator in the poem illustrates that he is not dead but still alive because his heart is still connected to Annie. The narrator argues that he is not afraid of death and therefore no one should pity him. The narrator also says that everyone will once lie in their narrow beds and die. The narrow bed in this case is a symbol of the coffin. Poe also shows incidences of loneliness in the poem by illustrating how the narrator is missing Annie and would love to be around her. Similar to Poe’s Romantics, the poem’s setting is terrifying lonely and horrible. Poe places the setting of the poem on the narrator’s death bed that is narrow. That is symbolic of a coffin. That demonstrates horror and loneliness. Ironically, several lines of the poem show the selfless nature of the narrator despite arguing that he is well at death. For example, in the second stanza the narrator says, "Sadly I know I am shorn of my strength…As I lie at full length, no matter how I feel, but I am better". Stanza four also talks of the moaning, groaning and the horrible throbbing (Edgar Poe). All these are incidences of sadness in the poem a representation of gothic setting in the poem. The two poems show some relationship with each other. For example, both poems are referring to Annie, who was Poes wife. However, the name Annie has been shortened in the poem For Annie, and it remains Annabel in the poem Annabel Lee. However, both poems illustrate that the name Annie was significant for Poes lovers. The two poems also show similarities in the manner in which they express gothic settings. In Annabel Lee, the narrator moans the death of his wife who was still youthful. The narrator chooses to blame himself for that. On the other hand, the poem For Annie also describes the death of the narrator. Both poems are about moaning dead people who were lovers and still emotionally attached. In addition, incidences of horror and fear are present in both poems. For example, the poem For Annie describes the narrator in his death bed after having committed suicide by consuming poison. The poems are also similar in form of literary skills. Both poems illustrate musicality based on rhyme and rhythm. For example, in the poem For Annie in stanza four, Poe uses rhyming words like moaning, groaning, and throbbing. That creates rhythm in the poem. Repetitions are also present in both poems. For example in the poem Annabel Lee, Poe constantly repeats the words " of the beautiful Annabel Lee. " On the other hand in the poem For Annie, Poem repeats the words,: Now in my bed." The two poems also show incidences of contrast. For example, in one poem Poe is moaning Annabel while on the other poem it is Annie moaning the demise of Poe. In the poem For Annie, Poe argues that he is not afraid of death while, in the poem Annabel Lee, the poet bemoans death for robbing him a wife. Conclusion Both poems are written with lost lovers in mind. The poems relate to Poes Gothic elements of writing, and the setting of the poems illustrates a fear, loneliness, and horror. The poems show a lot of similarities and a few contrasts. Works Cited Edgar Poe. Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1849. Read More