In a kingdom by the seaThere is nothing like first love. The emotions are fresh and seem stronger and stranger than anything before; it's almost magical. For many, the feelings of first love may seem quite difficult to express in words, but Edgar Allan Poe proves himself adept in his poem "Annabel Lee." The poem, considered by most to be a ballad, honors the memory of Poe's late wife, Virginia, who died two years before he wrote the poem. While the death of a beautiful woman is a common theme in Poe's writings, "Annabel Lee" presents a deeper theme of eternal love through the use of imagery and a unique use of the many elements of poetry. the speaker feels known and even heard by the reader. His use of imagery to portray the setting is crucial to this particular piece of literature, as it is through the setting that a significantly better realization of his anguish is achieved. [For example in this quote]: "A wind blew from a cloud, chilling my fair Annabel Lee; so that her noble kinsman came and took her away from me, to shut her up in a sepulcher in this kingdom by the sea" (lines 16 -21) “In a kingdom by the sea” expresses both a mystical and magical place where their love lasts forever, and the brutally depressing home of the deceased lover's grave. In this stanza Poe illustrates a strong, dark force stealing Annabel away from him and brutally "locking" her in a tomb. Throughout the poem, Poe's use of personal imagery (the diction used to embody his feelings), demonstrates the depth of his feelings: happy and sad. He uses emotional and insightful words to reveal a vivid picture of the speaker's pain as well as the joy he once felt from his tr...... middle of paper ......Aker's pain but also the immense positivity and joy he feels for their love. This poem focuses on love, death and the mourning of a loved one, evokes almost every type of emotion including empathy, anger, joy, envy and pain, making it an intense read. The meter also gives the poem a sort of dark lullaby that parallels the theme of the fairy tale. The setting and the speaker's feelings are reflected in Poe's powerful words. It uses repetition and undulating rhythms to continue the rapid, ever-changing, repetitive lament that embodies the maritime setting, the plot (love, loss, mourning), and the entire energy of the poem (positive energy of love, negative energy of 'Love). loss). Any reader who can appreciate the sweetness and sadness of a great story, even if it doesn't end particularly happily, would love this poem and no longer have to wait for it to rock their world...