Love and Loss: A Comparative Analysis of Poe’s “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee” Edgar Allen Poe’s literary legacy can be seen in his enduring works, “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee”, which have remained as captivating and inspirational pieces for decades. Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee” are comparable in their recurring similar tones and symbols that convey the despair of losing a loved one. Poe portrays the painful and emotional process of mourning in his works by utilizing a dramatic tone through the unusual behaviours and statements of his characters. Poe employs biblical symbols in his works to depict the beauty of the character's deceased loved ones, portraying them with a sense of ethereal and otherworldly grace. Through an …show more content…
The speaker of “The Raven” expresses their grief for their long-lost lover, Lenore, to the Raven through a frustrated monologue. At the climax of the poem the speaker pleads to the raven, “On this home by Horror haunted-tell me truly, I implore-/ Is there- is there balm in Gilead? - tell me- tell me, I implore!” (Poe 88-89). Poe emphasizes this dramatic tone through the speaker’s melodramatic pleas to the Raven, which can be perceived as unusual and unhinged by the reader. Similarly, Poe’s “Annabel Lee” evokes a comparable dramatic tone which is conveyed through the speaker’s loving but exaggerated speech about their deceased lover, Annabel Lee. The speaker professes his undying love for Annabel Lee in the bold statement; “But we loved with a love that was more than love- (Poe 9). Poe vividly depicts the deep and passionate relationship between the speaker and Annabel Lee, evoking intense emotions through his use of dramatic language; the bond between the two is portrayed as more than just love, but rather an all-consuming devotion that overwhelms the reader with its passion. Poe’s “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee” use dramatic language to evoke intense emotions and convey the