Analyzing/Explicating Poe's "Alone"

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I have to analyze Edgar Allan Poe's "Alone". I have to translate it literally and symbolically. If someone could like just help me get an idea of what he is trying to say, I have an idea, I just want to go deeper, I would appreciate it.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

Answers

umm............ummmmm./......my turkey is purple.....a purple turkey...is what i have... would u eat a purple turkey...in a tree/??

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

i had to analyze this poem for a class...this is what i got from it... he's saying that ever since he was born, he saw and took the world in differently than everyone else. not badly, just dofferently. he found beauty in the uncommon things, not the typical. and he felt that he was the only one who did "and all i lov'd - i lov'd alone -" and what everyone else found was beautiful, he thought the opposite "of a demon in my view" have you seen American Beauty? well the guy with the camera, he had the same idea i think. i hope that helps

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

I think what he's saying is that he's both utterly alone and rather insane. He knows it. He knows that he is symbolicly alone and literaly as well. He sees the world in a different light than most others so, being an author and poet, he is compelled to write of it. He's right.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000

Agreed with the above replies that Poe saw life, things, people differently than probably the majority did and do; agreed that it left him probably very isolated, and feeling alone; agreed that he couldn't do anything about the person he was (how many of us can?); agreed that it drove him to appear and maybe even feel crazy.

You're standing outside a brightly lit room, at night and so in the dark. You're looking into the room through a window. You, the one standing outside/in the dark, will be able to see not only all that is in that lit room, but everything surrounding you in the dark. Anyone standing inside the lit room will only ever be able to see what is in the room. Both bring gifts/both bring curses. Standing inside the room, you are blessed with a freedom from certain knowledge ... inherent with it is a certain peace of mind. But the curse is that you will never be able to experience, nor understand a rare insight and all that you can do with that insight. Standing outside the room, not only can you see into the brighly lit world, but you are indeed blessed with this insight into what life is like outside the confines of the room ... you're handed this mind-boggling gift of being able to witness a dimension in life which many cannot. The gifts that insight brings are yours. But you will be cursed with an elusive peace of mind, heart and soul which only those in the room can experience so easily.

Ignorance truly IS blissful. But it's not easy saying no to precious gems handed to you in the form of bits of knowledge and truths about the meaning of our exitence here ... in fact, "no" might not even BE a choice.

Poe stood outside looking in, seeing things that other people were utterly incapable of seeing or even imagining. Of course they thought he was nuts. Can't blame them. Can't blame Poe, either.

Poette.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2000


I am in 8th grade, writing a paper on Poe and analyzing the particular poem, "Alone." I understand the tone of this poem; he was different, saw different, thought different, and was very isolated from the common ----, but I am having trouble with the middle of the poem - from 'From ev'ry depth of good and ill' to From the sun that 'round me roll'd.' I would EXTREMELY appreciate it if anyone could explain to me these few lines!

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2002


poe is a mordid bipolar freak. I think he is a jerk. I think his poetry is laughable and beneath a sixth grade reading level.

-- Anonymous, June 08, 2003

and i suppose 'leif garret' can do better? no seriously, i'd like to see some of your written work and oooh at it as i see how much better it is than allan poe's. if you think he's a jerk why are you here in the first place? he shouldn't concern you.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2004

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