Question
How does Poe use figurative language to convey the speaker's strong feelings for Annabel Lee? Write a 300-word response, analyzing how
Poe's use of figurative language shows the depth of the speaker's feelings for Annabel Lee.
Response
B
Answer
In Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “Annabel Lee”, the speaker’s strong feelings for Annabel Lee are conveyed through the use of figurative language. Poe uses a variety of figurative language techniques to illustrate the depth of the speaker’s emotions, such as personification, metaphor, and simile.
Personification is used to give human qualities to non-human things, and Poe uses this technique to emphasize the speaker’s strong feelings for Annabel Lee. For example, the speaker personifies the “angels” in the poem, saying that they “envied” the love between him and Annabel Lee. This personification emphasizes the speaker’s strong feelings for Annabel Lee, as it implies that even the angels are jealous of the love between them.
Poe also uses metaphor to convey the speaker’s strong feelings for Annabel Lee. For example, the speaker compares his love for Annabel Lee to a “love that is more than love”. This metaphor emphasizes the speaker’s strong feelings for Annabel Lee, as it implies that his love for her is so strong that it is beyond the normal definition of love.
Finally, Poe uses simile to illustrate the speaker’s strong feelings for Annabel Lee. For example, the speaker compares his love for Annabel Lee to a “rare and radiant maiden”. This simile emphasizes the speaker’s strong feelings for Annabel Lee, as it implies that his love for her is so strong that it is like a beautiful and rare thing.
Overall, Poe’s use of figurative language in “Annabel Lee” shows the depth of the speaker’s feelings for Annabel Lee. Through the use of personification, metaphor, and simile, Poe conveys the speaker’s strong