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Poetry
“Poetry is a form of imaginative literary expression that makes it’s effect by the
sound and imagery of it’s language (“Poetry”).” Many poets base their writings on their
personal experiences throughout life. Some poets write of their memories or hopes, or even
dreams.
Edgar Allan Poe was one of the greatest American writers of all time. He was
known as a poet and critic. Poe is one of many authors who’s life has been reflected
throughout his poems and other writings.
E. A. Poe was born in Boston in 1809. He was orphaned in early childhood. He
was raised by a businessman in England from the age of six. He returned to the U.S. after
many years, remaining in private schools. In America, Poe dug himself into a life of alcohol
and gambling. His foster father, John Allan, was displeased with this and forced him to
work as a clerk.
Poe hated his job as a clerk, quit the job, and went back to Boston. This upset John
Allan extremely. In Boston, Poe published his first book, Tamerland and Other Poems. He
soon enlisted, and served two years in the United States Army. Afterwards Poe published a
second volume to his book, naming it Al Aaraaf. He began reconciling with Allan, who got
him an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. Poe was accepted but was dismissed for
neglect of duty after only a short time. Allan then disowned Poe, permanently.
A couple of years later Poe’s third book, Poems, was published. He moved again,
now to Baltimore, where he lived with his aunt and her eleven year-old daughter, Virginia
Clemm. The next year he released another book, A MS. Found in a Bottle, with this he
won a writing contest.
Poetry
Poe became an editor shortly after the contest, he worked for Southern Literary
Messenger. During these two years at the company he married his younger cousin,
Virginia. Viriginia became ill, and Poe moved from job to job. After eleven years of
marriage, Virginia died and Poe himself became ill. He had a dangerous addiction to liquor
and drugs. These addictions are claimed to be the reason for Poe’s early death in 1849
(Davidson).
One of Poe’s greatest poems, published only a few years before his death, was “The
Raven.” The poem starts off with a man falling asleep, when a tapping starts at his door.
He lets it go, figuring it to be a visitor, not sure if he heard it in the first place. He begins
thinking of the woman he has lost for evermore, Lenore.
Finally, he opens the door, for the tapping comes again only louder, but there is no
one there. He whispers into the darkness - Lenore? No answer. The tapping starts again
as he crawls into bed, this time the tapping is at the window. He goes to it....there stands a
raven. He tries to speak to it, and the Raven responds “Nevermore.”
He begins thinking about Lenore. As he does, the raven seems to answer his
thoughts with one word.... “Nevermore” The bird ends up staying even though the man
pleads with him to depart. he then realized his soul, just as the shadow on the floor, cast by
the raven, shall be lifted - Nevermore!
The bird seemed to torture him to the soul. This was what he needed to bring him
to realize he will never be happy again, for he will mourn over Lenore forever. While
reading “‘The Raven,’ I had the conception of a raven - the bird of ill omen - monotonously
repeating the one word “Nevermore,” at the conclusion of each stanza, in a poem of
Poetry
melancholy tone, and in length about one hundred lines,” says Young, editor of Poetry
Criticism.
Many essays have been written on the meaning of Poe’s poetry. In one instance it
was written “here we might briefly mention that ‘The Raven’ was more an attempt to
outline Poe’s view of what poetry should be and should do than it was forth right
demonstration of how “The Raven” came to be” (Kesterson 115).
Only Poe himself really knows what his poem meant. In Kestersons conclusion h e
states “Thus we can see the split in Poe’s imaginative world: there were elements of reality,
and there were faculties of the mind or imagination (Kesterson).” Poe’s symbols are such
mediations such as the dramatic bird and it’s voice. Kestersons goes on to say “‘The
Raven’ is a virtual admission of universal disparity: the imagination is lost in the shadow
that lies upon the floor, while the inanimate objects, bird and bust, stare out in triumphant
rigidity (Kesterson).”
Many believe “The Raven” reflects on Poe’s own life. It was only years before that
he had lost his dear wife, Virginia. Poe may have still been remorseful of losing her. The
bird in the story seems to symbolize the objects in Poe’s life, which torture his soul,
something that may remind him of Virginia, or an obstacle in his life.
The reflection of Poe’s life can be seen in many of his poems and other writings.
His poems are highly recommended to anyone who enjoys poetry.
Bibliography
Work Cited
Davidson, Edward H. Poe: A Critical Study. Cambridge: The Bolknap Press of Harvard
University Press, 1966. 84-92.
Kesterson, David B. Critics on Poe. Coral Gables: Miami Press, 1973. 23
“Poe, Edgar Allan.” Microsoft (R) Encarta (R) 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995.
Microsoft Corporation (c) Funk & Wagnalls Corporation.
“Poetry.” Microsoft (R) Encarta (R) 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995 Microsoft
Corporation. (c) Funk & Wagnalls Corporation.
Smith, Dave. “The Essential Poe Selected By Dave Smith.” volume 14. New Jersey.
1991. 42.
Young, Robyn V. “Poetry Criticism.” volume 1. Detroit, New York: Gale Research, Inc.
1991. 419.
Word Count: 863
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