2017美国文学作业

2016—08-31

. In Allan Poe's Poem "Annabellee", there are a lot of repetitions. For example,“In the kingdom by the sea” “ANNABEL LEE” are repeated for many times. Try to explain why Poe repeat these words and what artistic effects are produced by the repetition?

"Annabel Lee" is the last complete poem[1] composed by American

author Edgar Allan Poe. Like many of Poe's poems, it explores the

theme of the death of a beautiful woman.[2]

Like a ballad, the poem uses repetition of words and phrases

purposely to create its mournful effect.[2][8]The name "ANNABEL

LEE" is used over and over again. So the reader is acutely aware of

the speaker's sense of love.

The poem's narrator describes his love for Annabel Lee, which began

many years ago in a "kingdom by the sea". Though they were young,

their love for one another burned with such an intensity that angels

became envious. It is for that reason that the narrator believes the

seraphim caused her death. Even so, their love is strong enough that it

extends beyond the grave and the narrator believes their two souls are

still entwined.

Poe set the scene in a kingdom by the sea and uses some images like

sepulcher and tomb, which add some Gothic touch to the poem. With

the repetition of some words and phrases, the poem has a nostalgic

tone and gives us a mournful feeling. The mysterious tone of the

poem makes us feel that only in mysterious and ancient time does

such kind of love exist.

2016—09-14

1. Why doe Poe us “fantastic terror” in his poem "The Raven"??

[83][84]

[9]With the tapping at the door repeating, slightly louder, the narrator

realizes it is coming from his window. And the narrator begins as "weak

and weary," becomes regretful and grief-stricken, before passing into a

frenzy and, finally, madness. On the one hand, the fantastic terror

emerges both mentally and physically to show his lasting love to the

dead lover, which is the main theme of the poem: undying devotion. On

the other hand, the horrible setting is Gothic, with its physical signs, the

effects of decomposition, concerns of premature burial, the reanimation

of the dead, and mourning. Furthermore it also reflects the fundamental

tone of the whole poem.

2. Why does Poe choose midnight as the setting of his poem The

Raven ?

Midnight means terror and mystery, all kinds of ghosts and the devil always haunts at this time. The thrilling atmosphere emerges a tone of scary, paving the way for the raven’s coming.

The midnight is also the very closest and heartbreaking time to push the narrator’s inner loneliness to the climax.

Midnight is a moment of silence, which is interrupted by a dynamic knock at the door. It could increase the readers' curiosity and desire read on it.