Can someone help figure out "To My Mother". I know its about how he loved his step mom but i need in depth info. Like the rhyme scheme, metaphors or other poetic figurative language devices used in the poem. Thanks for your help.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2002

Answers

Shakespearian sonnet. Iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme is ababcdcdefef gg. The opening reference to angels whispering in heaven shows the devotion of the term mother. "more than a mother" boubly more so for being the mother of his love Virginia. The spiritual connection is placed over the brief physical relationship Poe had with his birth mother who died young. Mainly then the poem seeks to raise her in motherly estimation. The use of the angels compare to Annabel Lee or The Raven or other works where angels(Israfel, etc.) are the sublime singers of heaven whose passion Poe would rival, whose perfection he can only strive for.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2002