Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Bells'

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As soon as I began reading through The Bells, written by Edgar Allan Poe, I was somewhat confused by the exceptionally positive tone of the first two stanzas. He first speaks of the joy that is interrelated to the tinkling tone of silver bells on a sleigh, which seems to be a direct representation of the holiday, Christmas. Golden bells are spoken of next, and they are related to the joy of marriage during the wedding of two people, and the “World of Happiness their harmony foretells” (“The Bells”). However, the last two stanzas return to the well-known style of Poe. He speaks of alarm and iron bells, and his use of detail, length, and expression increases greatly. Readers will find themselves in the midst of the horror that is being described …show more content…

This story depicts the love between the unknown narrator and Annabel Lee, a love that even during their childhood was strong enough to make the angels in Heaven jealous. However, the story quickly transitions to that of heartache, for the fair Annabel Lee, perishes from a chilling wind. I felt sorry for the two, they had a love that many wish for, but Annabel had been torn away from the narrator. Having known that Poe’s, wife Clemm died at an early age, this story could possibly reflect the pain that Poe, himself, was experiencing. In the poem, the two lived in a kingdom by the sea, and after Annabel’s death, she was entombed in that kingdom. The narrator believes that the envious angels of Heaven, were the ones to send the wind to kill his love, but firmly states that their love was so strong that their souls would never be separated. “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;” (“Annabel Lee”). The narrator spent every night by Annabel Lee’s tomb, being reminded of his love by the moon and stars. Edgar Allan Poe did a good job with this poem, his emotions are perfectly conveyed throughout the whole piece. I am surprised by Poe’s ability, to captivate the reader whether with fear, sorrow, or short-lived joy. The poem Annabel Lee, would bring any reader to grieve over the death of the narrator’s love, it is beautifully

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