What is the message that Edgar allan poe was trying to get across in his poem, ANNABELLE LEE? is it really abtou a certain person or is it a portrayal? Is the message or meaning behind the poem abtou someone in his life or is it a made up character to get his point across for the poem? WHAT is the purpose of writing it, and what is the meaning of the poem?

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2003

Answers

Poe's poem "Annabel lee" contains themes that appear in many of Poe's works, such as the death and burial of a beautiful woman, undying love, and deification of her memory - although the specific influence on its composition appears to have been Poe's loss of his cousin/wife Virgina Clemm. The strong contemporary sentiment is that Poe composed the poem to memorialize his love and loss of Virgina. After his death other woman in his life, including Sarah Anna Lewis, Helen Whitman, and Sarah Royster, claimed that they were the ones who had been immortalized in this poem. The poem recounts a love so powerful that even the angels feel envious of the bond.

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2003

The main message would be that the narrator has an undying love for Annabel Lee, and that he is trying to find a connecting point in which he can he can be with her while between the realms of life and death. It is suspected, and with great validity, that the poem is actually about his wife (and thirteen-year-old cousin) Virginia Clemm. The cloud that killed Annabel Lee, chilled her death - much like tuberculosis (the disease that killed Virginia). She was a child, so was Virginia. There are many more instances in the poem in which lead them to believe that Virginia is the actual subject. There is no actual proof. There is a chance that the character is indeed, purely fictional or a combination of all the women that died during his lifetime. Some speculate that the actual purpose of the poem was to give immortality to someone. Some believe it in Virginia, others believe it is Poe himself. The narrator in the poem refuses to let Annabel Lee die, much like his fans today. The fact that they continue to read his works, keeps his memory alive. To sum this up, the meaning of the poem is undying love. The narrator speaks of looking in the sky to see her face, and seeing her in his dreams. She is very much alive to him, although she is dead - which puts a damper on love. It's a fairy tale gone horribly wrong, and ends with the narrator keeping her alive by his memory. Annabel Lee may be physically dead - but the narrator is having trouhle with her dying (not fully accepting it). The ultimate point is: its love even in death - somewhere between the two realms.

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2003

I think the whole message here is that Anabelle Lee is Virginia Clemm. They were sticking together no matter what so that has to be his wife.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2003

Annabell Lee was his wife but wasn't she his cousin as well I know the poem is about her death and how it changed his life but could it also be about him wanting her name to live on forever or as long as people read the poem

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2004

I have evidenve that edgar allen poe did'nt write that poem in the first place I'm to busy to respond right now so if you want more info I would be glad to answer just email me k...craeziefreak@yahoo.com

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2004

1) it is spelled "Annabel Lee" 2) No one is really sure who it is written for because Poe himself never said nor wrote it. It might be written for Virginia, other women who Poe wrote anonomous letters to or no one at all. The meaning of the poem is; true love is so great, it is immortal. 3)Please don't email me because this adress isn't working.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2004