Was Annabel Lee written for Poe's wife?
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.
What happened to Edgar Allan Poe's wife?
His work forced him to move among several cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. He married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm, in 1836, but Virginia died of tuberculosis in 1847. In January 1845, Poe published his poem " The Raven " to instant success.
Did Edgar Allan Poe marry his cousin Virginia?
Like so many aspects of Edgar Allan Poe’s life (including his death), the nature of his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Eliza Clemm, is shrouded in mystery.
How old was Poe when he married Virginia Woolf?
Though Virginia claimed she was 21 years old on their marriage certificate, she was, at the time, only 13 — half the age Poe. The marriage came at a productive time for Poe.
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Did Poe marry a 14 year old?
Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe (née Clemm; August 15, 1822 – January 30, 1847) was the wife of American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The couple were first cousins and publicly married when Virginia Clemm was 13 and Poe was 27. Biographers disagree as to the nature of the couple's relationship.
What age did Poe get married?
Virginia and Maria joined Edgar in Richmond in 1835. Edgar and Virginia were married in 1836. She was 13 years old and he was 27 years old.
Why did Edgar Allan Poe marry a 13 year old?
Clemm adored Poe, following him on long walks in the countryside and even delivering his love letters to a neighbor — until, that is, his affections turned to her. It's said that the pair attended strangers' funerals, held each other and cried.
How old was Annabel Lee?
The narrator of the poem declares that Annabel Lee died because their love was so strong the angels grew jealous and killed her. Poe wrote Annabel Lee two years after his wife died of tuberculosis at age 24.
Did Edgar Allan Poe have a child bride?
There's only one known portrait of author Edgar Allan Poe's child bride, and it's a painting of her corpse. Her name was Virginia Clemm, and she was his cousin. When Poe, age 27, married her, she was just 13.
When did Edgar Allan Poe write Annabel Lee?
Oct. 9, 1849Annabel Lee, lyric poem by Edgar Allan Poe, published in the New York Tribune on Oct. 9, 1849, two days after his death. Thought to be written in memory of his young wife and cousin, Virginia, who died in 1847, the poem expresses one of Poe's recurrent themes—the death of a young, beautiful, and dearly beloved woman.
Did Poe have rabies?
Poe ''had all the features of encephalitic rabies,'' said Dr. Henry Wilde, who frequently treats rabies at Chulalongkorn University Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Although it has been well established that Poe died in the hospital, legend has it that he succumbed in the gutter, a victim of his debauched ways.
Who was Poe's second wife?
Virginia Eliza Clemm PoeEdgar Allan Poe / Wife (m. 1836–1847)
What was unusual about Edgar Allan Poe marriage?
The marriage which joined Edgar A. Poe to his teenage cousin Virginia Clemm was certainly unusual — and it has nothing to do with their blood relations or the bride's age. There is a signed document (a not-so-good reproduction is pictured at right) dated May 16, 1836 which serves as the couple's official marriage bond.
Was Annabel Lee a child?
The narrator admits that he and Annabel Lee were children when they fell in love, but his explanation that angels murdered her is in itself childish, suggesting he has failed to mature since then.
Was Edgar Allan Poe married to Annabel?
While there is no definite consensus, his wife, Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, is thought of as the most likely inspiration for “Annabel Lee”. There's plenty of evidence to support this claim. By most accounts, Virginia was very young when she married Poe. Edgar was mesmerized by his wife's beauty.
Why did Poe use the name Annabel Lee?
Annabel Lee is the star of the poem, and she's the only thing in the world that matters to the speaker. So it's not too surprising that the poem is named after her. On top of that, the title introduces us to the sound of her name, which is important for Poe.
Who was Annabel Lee?
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.
When was Annabel Lee written?
"Annabel Lee" was probably composed in May 1849. Poe took steps to ensure that 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. Though Sartain's was the first authorized printing in January 1850, Griswold was the first to publish it on October 9, 1849, two days after Poe's death as part of his obituary of Poe in the Horace Greeley newspaper the New-York Daily Tribune. Thompson had it published in the Southern Literary Messenger in November 1849.
What is the meaning of the letter L in Annabel Lee?
The name Annabel Lee emphasizes the letter " L ", a frequent device in Poe's female characters such as " Eulalie ", " Lenore ", and " Ulalume ". The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore, Maryland has identified 11 versions ...
How many lines are in Annabel Lee?
"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. Though it is not technically a ballad, Poe referred to it as one. Like a ballad, the poem uses repetition of words and phrases purposely to create its mournful effect. The name Annabel Lee emphasizes the letter " L ", a frequent device in Poe's female characters such as " Eulalie ", " Lenore ", and " Ulalume ".
What does the narrator believe about Annabel Lee?
The poem's narrator describes his love for Annabel Lee, which began many years ago in a "kingdom by the sea". Though they were young, their love for one another burned with such intensity that even angels were envious. For this reason the narrator believes the seraphim caused her death. 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, the narrator dreams of Annabel Lee and sees the brightness of her eyes in the stars. Every night the narrator lies down by her side in her tomb by the sea.
What is the theme of Annabel Lee?
Like many of Poe's poems, it explores the theme of the death of a beautiful woman. The narrator, who fell in love with Annabel Lee when they were young, has a love for her so strong that even angels are envious.
Who played Annabel Lee in Kissing in the Rain?
The web series "Kissing in the Rain" features a shortened version of the poem with Sean Persaud as Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Kate Wiles as Annabel Lee. The band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club made a song out of the poem.
How old was Edgar Allan Poe when he married Virginia?
Like so many aspects of Edgar Allan Poe’s life (including his death), the nature of his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Eliza Clemm, is shrouded in mystery. The two first met in 1829, when Clemm was seven years old. Her widowed mother Maria had then allowed the 20-year-old Poe, who had been orphaned in his youth ...
When did Edgar Allan Poe marry Clemm?
Regardless, the couple eloped in Baltimore on September 22, 1835, and made their marriage public with a ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, ...
What did Poe think of Clemm's mouth?
Years before, in January of 1842, while singing and playing the piano, Clemm began to bleed from her mouth. Poe had believed it was just “a ruptured blood-vessel,” but it was in fact the first sign of tuberculosis.
How old was Poe when he was orphaned?
Her widowed mother Maria had then allowed the 20-year-old Poe, who had been orphaned in his youth and more recently discharged from the military, to stay with her family. Clemm adored Poe, following him on long walks in the countryside and even delivering his love letters to a neighbor — until, that is, his affections turned to her.
When did Clemm die?
For years, his wife’s health wavered between near death and more promising days of garden-tending and harp-playing. On January 30, 1847, Clemm succumbed, following 11 years of marriage to Poe.
Who was Ellet's murderer?
The ordeal eventually died down, but it tarnished Poe’s reputation and Clemm never forgot it. Famously, the incident inspired her 1846 Valentine poem to Poe about the “tattling of many tongues.”. As folklore will have it, on her deathbed, Clemm declared Ellet her murderer.
Who was Poe's sister?
Indeed, in letters, Clemm was Poe’s “Sis” or “Sissy.”. Clemm may have even encouraged Poe’s scandalous friendship with the married 34-year-old poet Frances Sargent Osgood, delivering notes between the two in a fashion similar to that of her childhood.
What does Edgar Allan Poe use in Annabel Lee?
A high percentage of the poem's metrical feet employ anapests, which have a dramatic and propulsive sound—but if overdone can start to sound comic. Accordingly, Poe mixes these anapests up with iambs.
Who narrates Annabel Lee's poem?
The poem is narrated by Annabel Lee's lover, who forcefully rails against the people—and supernatural beings—who tried to get in the way of their love . Ultimately, the speaker claims that his bond with Annabel Lee was so strong that, even after her death, they are still together. Read the full text of “Annabel Lee”.
What does the speaker believe about Annabel Lee?
Retrospectively, the speaker believes that the angels, unhappy in heaven and envious of the love between him and Annabel Lee, caused the wind that killed her. Their love, says the speaker, was more powerful than the love between people older and wiser than them.
What is the last poem written by Edgar Allan Poe?
Ask a question. Ask a question. "Annabel Lee" is the last poem composed by Edgar Allan Poe, one of the foremost figures of American literature. It was written in 1849 and published not long after the author's death in the same year. It features a subject that appears frequently in Poe's writing: the death of a young, beautiful woman.
What is the theme of Annabel Lee?
Death and Grief . “Annabel Lee” takes up a common subject in Edgar Allan Poe’s writing: the death of a beautiful young woman. It portrays this as the most tragic death of all—robbing the world of youth, beauty and innocence.
Was Annabel Lee inspired by Dickens?
He was also a big admirer of Charles Dickens's novels—indeed, his famous poem " The Raven " was directly inspired by Dickens. "Annabel Lee" also shares a common subject—the death of a beautiful young woman—with Poe's " Eulalie " and " Ulalume .". In fact, he called this subject "the most poetical topic in the world.".
Overview
Publishing career
After his brother's death, Poe began more earnest attempts to start his career as a writer, but he chose a difficult time in American publishing to do so. He was one of the first Americans to live by writing alone and was hampered by the lack of an international copyright law. American publishers often produced unauthorized copies of British works rather than paying for new work by Ameri…
Early life
Edgar Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809, the second child of English-born actress Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe and actor David Poe Jr. He had an elder brother named William Henry Leonard Poe and a younger sister named Rosalie Poe. Their grandfather, David Poe Sr., emigrated from County Cavan, Ireland, around 1750. Edgar may have been named after a char…
Military career
Poe was unable to support himself, so he enlisted in the United States Army as a private on May 27, 1827, using the name "Edgar A. Perry". He claimed that he was 22 years old even though he was 18. He first served at Fort Independence in Boston Harbor for five dollars a month. That same year, he released his first book, a 40-page collection of poetry titled Tamerlane and Other Poems, attribu…
Death
On October 3, 1849, Poe was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore, "in great distress, and... in need of immediate assistance", according to Joseph W. Walker, who found him. He was taken to the Washington Medical College, where he died on Sunday, October 7, 1849, at 5:00 in the morning. Poe was not coherent long enough to explain how he came to be in his dire condition and w…
Literary style and themes
Poe's best known fiction works are Gothic, adhering to the genre's conventions to appeal to the public taste. His most recurring themes deal with questions of death, including its physical signs, the effects of decomposition, concerns of premature burial, the reanimation of the dead, and mourning. Many of his works are generally considered part of the dark romanticism genre, a literary reaction to
Legacy
During his lifetime, Poe was mostly recognized as a literary critic. Fellow critic James Russell Lowell called him "the most discriminating, philosophical, and fearless critic upon imaginative works who has written in America", suggesting—rhetorically—that he occasionally used prussic acid instead of ink. Poe's caustic reviews earned him the reputation of being a "tomahawk man". …
In popular culture
The historical Edgar Allan Poe has appeared as a fictionalized character, often representing the "mad genius" or "tormented artist" and exploiting his personal struggles. Many such depictions also blend in with characters from his stories, suggesting that Poe and his characters share identities. Often, fictional depictions of Poe use his mystery-solving skills in such novels as The Poe Sha…
Overview
"Annabel Lee" is the last complete poem composed by American author Edgar Allan Poe. Like many of Poe's poems, it explores the theme of the death of a beautiful woman. The narrator, who fell in love with Annabel Lee when they were young, has a love for her so strong that even angels are envious. He retains his love for her even after her death. There has been debate over who, if anyone, w…
Synopsis
The poem's narrator describes his love for Annabel Lee, which began many years ago in a "kingdom by the sea". Though they were young, their love for one another burned with such intensity that even angels were envious. For this reason the narrator believes the seraphim caused her death. 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, the narrator dreams of Annabel Lee and s…
Analysis
Like many other Poe poems including "The Raven", "Ulalume", and "To One in Paradise", "Annabel Lee" follows the theme of the death of a beautiful woman, which Poe called "the most poetical topic in the world". Like women in many other works by Poe, she marries young and is struck with illness. 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 he…
Inspiration
It is unclear on whom the eponymous character Annabel Lee is based. Biographers and critics usually 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. Biographers often interpret that "Annabel Lee" was written for Poe's wife Virginia, …
Publication history and reception
"Annabel Lee" was probably composed in May 1849. Poe took steps to ensure that 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. Though Sartain's was the first authorized printing in January 1850, Griswold w…
Adaptations
• The English composer Henry David Leslie (1822–96) set this as a ballad for voice and piano, respelling as "Annabelle Lee".
• The 1914 silent film The Avenging Conscience is based on "Annabel Lee" and Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart".
• 1968 Short Film "Annabel Lee" featuring Paul Le Mat (an unknown at the time) and Margo Duke - directed by Ronald R. Morante and Producer Paul Wolff - won best International Short S…
• The English composer Henry David Leslie (1822–96) set this as a ballad for voice and piano, respelling as "Annabelle Lee".
• The 1914 silent film The Avenging Conscience is based on "Annabel Lee" and Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart".
• 1968 Short Film "Annabel Lee" featuring Paul Le Mat (an unknown at the time) and Margo Duke - directed by Ronald R. Morante and Producer Paul Wolff - won best International Short Subject Competition for Best Cinematography. All rights wer…
See also
• Poems by Edgar Allan Poe
External links
• Publication history at the Edgar Allan Poe Society
• "New-York daily tribune, October 09, 1849, Page 2". Chronicling America - Library of Congress. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
• Audio – hear the poem read