Hello, my name is Esther. I anm doing a research paper on Poe and how Jane Stanard, Virginia Poe, and Elmira Royster Shelton affected him by causing him to write about certain themes in certain works. Here are my main ideas:

Jane theme - ideal beauty is associated with death works: "To Helen", "Ligeia"

Virginia theme - the souls of lovers are united after death works: "Annabel Lee", "Ulalume", "Elenora"

Elmira theme - lost love is as painful as death works: "The Raven", ?

I really need at least one more work of Poe's that proves how painful love is. I also REALLY need more resources that can help to prove any of these themes. If you can help, please post the information/adress here and do not email me unless absolutely necessary (esk@poetic.com) Please post your own ideas on the subject matter, as well. Thank you.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2001

Answers

"To One in Paradise" might be Royster again(the unholy pillow, crime etc.)The theme of the lost beloved(the perfect loss of course is death so Poe talks of Elmira, for example, as being in "paradise") is another gateway for Poe to delve into Psyche, the glories, the peace the past happiness, his better self, his muse, etc. It certainly inspires his poetry. The particular way the pain continues to haunt Poe should be explored, sometimes as something less than desired, sometimes as a source of higher art. Sometimes it is a thing in itself, a ghostly presence, a non-personalized power- which might explain if not excuse his strange courting behavior during his last year. Poe had difficulty, it seems to me, overtly or directly dealing with his real life pains and ghosts.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2001