'The Bells' by Edgar Allan Poe
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I
Hear the sledges with the bells-
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.
II
Hear the mellow wedding bells,
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight!
From the molten-golden notes,
And an in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
On the moon!
Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! how it tells
Of the rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells,bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!
III
Hear the loud alarum bells-
Brazen bells!
What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!
In the startled ear of night
How they scream out their affright!
Too much horrified to speak,
They can only shriek, shriek,
Out of tune,
In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire,
In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire,
Leaping higher, higher, higher,
With a desperate desire,
And a resolute endeavor,
Now- now to sit or never,
By the side of the pale-faced moon.
Oh, the bells, bells, bells!
What a tale their terror tells
Of Despair!
How they clang, and clash, and roar!
What a horror they outpour
On the bosom of the palpitating air!
Yet the ear it fully knows,
By the twanging,
And the clanging,
How the danger ebbs and flows:
Yet the ear distinctly tells,
In the jangling,
And the wrangling,
How the danger sinks and swells,
By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells-
Of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells,bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
In the clamor and the clangor of the bells!
IV
Hear the tolling of the bells-
Iron Bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!
In the silence of the night,
How we shiver with affright
At the melancholy menace of their tone!
For every sound that floats
From the rust within their throats
Is a groan.
And the people- ah, the people-
They that dwell up in the steeple,
All Alone
And who, tolling, tolling, tolling,
In that muffled monotone,
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart a stone-
They are neither man nor woman-
They are neither brute nor human-
They are Ghouls:
And their king it is who tolls;
And he rolls, rolls, rolls,
Rolls
A paean from the bells!
And his merry bosom swells
With the paean of the bells!
And he dances, and he yells;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the paean of the bells-
Of the bells:
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the throbbing of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells-
To the sobbing of the bells;
Keeping time, time, time,
As he knells, knells, knells,
In a happy Runic rhyme,
To the rolling of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells:
To the tolling of the bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells-
Bells, bells, bells-
To the moaning and the groaning of the bells.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe's The Bells is a masterpiece of poetry that grips the reader with its haunting melody and vivid imagery. As one of Poe's most famous works, it is known for its unique structure, the repetition of the word "bells," and its ability to evoke the emotions of the reader. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various elements that make The Bells such an enduring classic.
Structure and Form of The Bells
The structure of The Bells is one of its most distinctive features. It is divided into four stanzas, each of which is dedicated to a different type of bell. From the silver bells of the first stanza to the iron bells of the fourth, there is a gradual shift in tone and mood. The poem begins with a light and joyful tone, but as it progresses, it becomes darker and more ominous. The poem's structure is crucial to its impact, as it builds up to a powerful climax that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
In addition, the poem's form is also significant. The Bells is written in trochaic tetrameter, which means that each line has four stressed syllables followed by an unstressed syllable. This gives the poem a strong, rhythmic quality that adds to its musicality. Poe's use of repetition is also noteworthy. The word "bells" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of continuity and unity. The repetition of this word, combined with the poem's rhythm and structure, creates a hypnotic effect that draws the reader into its world.
Themes and Interpretation of The Bells
One of the most prominent themes of The Bells is the passage of time. The poem's four stanzas represent four stages of life, from childhood to old age. The silver bells of the first stanza represent the innocence and joy of childhood, while the golden bells of the second stanza represent the happiness and fulfillment of adulthood. The brazen bells of the third stanza represent the tumultuous and uncertain middle age, while the iron bells of the fourth stanza represent the finality and inevitability of death.
Another important theme of the poem is the power of sound. The bells in the poem are not just objects, but living beings with their own personalities and emotions. They have the power to evoke different moods and feelings in the listener, from joy and excitement to fear and despair. This theme is explored throughout the poem, as each type of bell is described in vivid detail, adding to the sensory experience of the reader.
The Bells can also be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition. The poem suggests that life is a cycle of joy and sorrow, birth and death, and that these experiences are universal. The poem's use of repetition and rhythm reinforces this idea, as it suggests that our lives are governed by a larger, cosmic rhythm that we cannot control. This interpretation gives the poem a timeless quality, as it speaks to the universal human experience.
Imagery and Symbolism in The Bells
One of the most striking aspects of The Bells is its vivid imagery. Poe uses rich, sensory language to create a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. The silver bells of the first stanza are described as "merry," "glad," and "tinkling," evoking a sense of joy and celebration. The golden bells of the second stanza are described as "mellow," "sweet," and "haunting," creating a sense of nostalgia and longing. The brazen bells of the third stanza are described as "clamorous," "wild," and "furious," evoking a sense of chaos and unrest. Finally, the iron bells of the fourth stanza are described as "dismal," "melancholy," and "moaning," creating a sense of despair and finality.
The poem's use of symbolism is also significant. The bells can be seen as a symbol of the passage of time, as they ring to mark the hours and the years. They can also be seen as a symbol of the human experience, as they evoke different emotions and moods in the listener. Additionally, the use of the word "bells" can be seen as a metaphor for the cycles of life and death, as the sound of the bells fades away, only to be replaced by new bells ringing in the distance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Edgar Allan Poe's The Bells is a masterpiece that continues to captivate readers with its vivid imagery, haunting melody, and universal themes. Through its use of repetition, rhythm, and symbolism, the poem creates a hypnotic effect that draws the reader into its world. The poem's exploration of the human experience, the passage of time, and the power of sound, makes it a timeless classic that speaks to readers of all ages. As we listen to the sound of the bells ringing in the distance, we are reminded of our own mortality and the fleeting nature of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Bells: A Masterpiece of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe, the master of macabre, is known for his dark and eerie tales that have captivated readers for generations. However, his poem, The Bells, is a departure from his usual style, as it is a celebration of life and the joyous sounds that surround us. The Bells is a masterpiece that showcases Poe's poetic genius and his ability to create vivid imagery that transports the reader to a world of sound and emotion.
The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which describes the different sounds of bells and the emotions they evoke. The first stanza describes the light and cheerful sound of silver bells, which are associated with happiness and joy. The second stanza describes the deep and solemn sound of iron bells, which are associated with sadness and mourning. The third stanza describes the loud and frenzied sound of brass bells, which are associated with excitement and celebration. The fourth and final stanza describes the haunting and ominous sound of golden bells, which are associated with death and the afterlife.
The poem begins with the sound of silver bells, which are described as "the world in tune". The sound of silver bells is associated with happiness and joy, and Poe uses words like "merriment" and "delight" to describe the emotions they evoke. The stanza is full of light and cheerful imagery, with words like "glee" and "jubilee" painting a picture of a world filled with happiness and laughter.
The second stanza is a stark contrast to the first, as it describes the sound of iron bells. The sound of iron bells is deep and solemn, and Poe uses words like "melancholy" and "moaning" to describe the emotions they evoke. The stanza is full of dark and somber imagery, with words like "grief" and "sorrow" painting a picture of a world filled with sadness and mourning.
The third stanza is a complete departure from the first two, as it describes the sound of brass bells. The sound of brass bells is loud and frenzied, and Poe uses words like "uproar" and "clangor" to describe the emotions they evoke. The stanza is full of wild and frenzied imagery, with words like "madness" and "ecstasy" painting a picture of a world filled with excitement and celebration.
The fourth and final stanza is the most haunting of all, as it describes the sound of golden bells. The sound of golden bells is ominous and foreboding, and Poe uses words like "terror" and "horror" to describe the emotions they evoke. The stanza is full of dark and haunting imagery, with words like "knell" and "tolling" painting a picture of a world filled with death and the afterlife.
Throughout the poem, Poe uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. The repetition of words like "bells" and "ringing" creates a sense of continuity and unity, while the repetition of phrases like "the bells, bells, bells" creates a sense of urgency and intensity.
Poe also uses onomatopoeia to create a sense of sound and movement. Words like "tinkle" and "jingle" mimic the sound of silver bells, while words like "clang" and "clash" mimic the sound of brass bells. The use of onomatopoeia creates a sense of realism and immerses the reader in the world of sound that Poe has created.
The Bells is a poem that celebrates the beauty and power of sound. Poe uses the different sounds of bells to evoke a range of emotions, from happiness and joy to sadness and mourning, from excitement and celebration to terror and horror. The poem is a testament to Poe's poetic genius and his ability to create vivid imagery that transports the reader to a world of sound and emotion.
In conclusion, The Bells is a masterpiece of Edgar Allan Poe that showcases his poetic genius and his ability to create vivid imagery that transports the reader to a world of sound and emotion. The poem is a celebration of life and the joyous sounds that surround us, and it is a testament to the power of sound to evoke a range of emotions. The Bells is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty and power of poetry.
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