How Does Poe Use Alliteration In Annabel Lee

Annabel Lee was written in 1849 by the well-known author, Edgar Allen Poe. This poem is narrated from a first person account, Poe, and tells about the death of a young woman who goes by the name, Annabel Lee. She loved and was loved by the narrator and as the poem shows, their young love was valued because of its innocence and simplicity. The feelings of love Poe felt didn't die with the woman, but instead remained alive making this a beautiful, yet painful memory. Through the author’s careful use of personification, imagery, repetition, alliteration, and internal rhyme scheme, he is able to portray the beauty and elegance that existed within the long lost love that they shared.
Personification and imagery are strongly used throughout the poem to help illuminate the never-ending love between Annabel Lee and the speaker. ‘In this

Poe uses alliteration to help the poem flow, consequently, making it easier to read and understand. Alliteration also has the effect of making the writing memorable and more appealing to the reader. This poetic device is utilized in every stanza throughout this poem as it helps give it a musical quality. Within the first three lines, Poe uses the repeating “m” sound in his word choice of “may, maiden, and many.” Alliteration can also be found between the words, “beautiful, blew, and bore,” which all share the repeating “b” sound and exist in stanza three. The repetition of several words and phrases throughout Annabel Lee are meant to have a similar effect as the alliteration, they both help develop the theme and overall piece. The poem recalls a memory from early on in Poe’s life and it's as if the repetition is an echo in his mind as he recollects what he felt for his beloved. The repetition of “Annabel Lee, me, and love,” help to show the deep connection between the two people. It represents the strong and never ending tie between Poe and Annabel