I need to know Edgar's thoughts behind the poem "Romance" also known as "Introduction" It's almost as though someone inspired him to write this or perhaps something happened to trigger his thoughts on Romance and loss. Did his wife die? Did he lose a friend? Was he reminded of the past? Is it because he dropped University and was dissowned by his step-father? Please help me! The poem was written in 1831. Thank-you all very much.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2003

Answers

I'm not well versed on "Romance," but I can answer a few of your questions. Poe's only wife, Virgina Clemm, did die. It was from consumption (tuberculosis). He lost many other women to that disease (his own mother, his foster mother). I'm not sure if any of his writing really had to do with the university or his foster father (he was never officially adopted). Was his writing influenced by any one person, or experience? I'm not too sure - he seemed to write many of his works in the first person-narrator sense. So I'm guessing no. Hope that helps.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2003