who is the letter To helen refering helen of troy or who? please e-mail me with the answer!

-- Anonymous, December 01, 1999

Answers

I read that "To Helen" was written about Sarah Helen Whitman

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2000

Brett,

There were two poems written by Poe that were titled "To Helen". The first was written for Jane Craig Stanard and the Helen mentioned in the poem was most definitely referencing Helen of Troy (not Sarah H. Whitman). It was not intended to characterize Ms. Stanard, but was merely dedicated to her in remembrance of her kindness to Poe in his early teens. The first "To Helen" was titled by Poe, the second was titled by Rufus W. Griswold in 1850 after Poe's death. It was the second "To Helen" that was dedicated to Sarah Helen Whitman.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000