'The City In The Sea' by Edgar Allan Poe

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Lo! Death has reared himself a throne
In a strange city lying alone
Far down within the dim West,
Where the good and the bad and the worst and the best
Have gone to their eternal rest.
There shrines and palaces and towers
(Time-eaten towers that tremble not!)
Resemble nothing that is ours.
Around, by lifting winds forgot,
Resignedly beneath the sky
The melancholy waters he.

No rays from the holy heaven come down
On the long night-time of that town;
But light from out the lurid sea
Streams up the turrets silently-
Gleams up the pinnacles far and free-
Up domes- up spires- up kingly halls-
Up fanes- up Babylon-like walls-
Up shadowy long-forgotten bowers
Of sculptured ivy and stone flowers-
Up many and many a marvellous shrine
Whose wreathed friezes intertwine
The viol, the violet, and the vine.
Resignedly beneath the sky
The melancholy waters lie.
So blend the turrets and shadows there
That all seem pendulous in air,
While from a proud tower in the town
Death looks gigantically down.

There open fanes and gaping graves
Yawn level with the luminous waves;
But not the riches there that lie
In each idol's diamond eye-
Not the gaily-jewelled dead
Tempt the waters from their bed;
For no ripples curl, alas!
Along that wilderness of glass-
No swellings tell that winds may be
Upon some far-off happier sea-
No heavings hint that winds have been
On seas less hideously serene.

But lo, a stir is in the air!
The wave- there is a movement there!
As if the towers had thrust aside,
In slightly sinking, the dull tide-
As if their tops had feebly given
A void within the filmy Heaven.
The waves have now a redder glow-
The hours are breathing faint and low-
And when, amid no earthly moans,
Down, down that town shall settle hence,
Hell, rising from a thousand thrones,
Shall do it reverence.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The City In The Sea: An Ode To The Dark And Mysterious

Edgar Allan Poe is known for his poetic prowess in the field of Gothic literature. His ability to conjure up vivid images of the macabre, horror and despair is nothing short of extraordinary. One of his most haunting poems is "The City In The Sea," which is a testament to his genius as a writer.

Overview

"The City In The Sea" is a forty-eight line poem that is divided into eight stanzas. The poem tells the story of a city that lies beneath the sea, and the narrator's fascination with it. The poem is written in the first person, which creates a sense of intimacy between the reader and the speaker.

Themes

One of the major themes in the poem is the inevitability of death. The city in the sea is a metaphor for death, and the narrator is fascinated by it, almost as if he is drawn to it. He describes the city as "a city half as old as time" and "where the good and the bad and the worst and the best have gone to their eternal rest."

Another theme in the poem is the power of nature. The city in the sea is a victim of natural forces, and it is slowly sinking into the ocean. The narrator describes how "the sea hath no king but God alone," which emphasizes the idea that nature is an unstoppable force.

Structure

The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs. An iamb is a metrical foot that consists of two syllables, with the first syllable unstressed and the second syllable stressed. This creates a rhythm in the poem, which adds to its musicality.

The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCB, which means that the first, second, and fifth lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, while the third, fourth, and sixth lines rhyme with each other. This creates a sense of symmetry in the poem, which is appropriate given the theme of death and the symmetry of life.

Language and Imagery

Poe's use of language and imagery in "The City In The Sea" is what makes the poem so haunting and beautiful. He describes the city as "dim" and "dreamy," which creates a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. He also uses a lot of alliteration, which adds to the musicality of the poem.

One of the most striking images in the poem is the description of the city as "a city of dimness and of gloominess and a city of old renown." The use of repetition and alliteration in this line creates a sense of foreboding and doom, which is appropriate given the theme of death.

Another powerful image in the poem is the description of the sea as "the abyss of the ebony." The use of contrast between the dark sea and the white foam creates a powerful visual image, which emphasizes the power of nature.

Analysis

"The City In The Sea" is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores the themes of death and the power of nature. The use of language and imagery in the poem is masterful, and it creates a sense of mystery and foreboding that is characteristic of Poe's writing.

The poem is also a testament to Poe's ability to create a sense of musicality in his writing. The iambic tetrameter and the rhyme scheme create a rhythm in the poem that is both haunting and beautiful.

Overall, "The City In The Sea" is a masterpiece of Gothic literature, and it is a testament to Poe's genius as a writer. The poem is a reminder of the inevitability of death and the power of nature, and it is a haunting and beautiful tribute to those who have gone before us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The City In The Sea: A Masterpiece of Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, the master of horror and mystery, is known for his dark and eerie tales that have captivated readers for generations. One of his most famous works is the poem "The City In The Sea," which was first published in 1831. This poem is a haunting and vivid description of a city that lies beneath the sea, and it is filled with symbolism and imagery that has fascinated readers for over a century.

The poem begins with a description of the city, which is said to be "in the sea." The city is described as being "dim" and "haunted," and it is said to be "silent." The imagery used here is powerful, as it creates a sense of mystery and foreboding. The reader is immediately drawn into the poem, and they are left wondering what kind of city this could be.

As the poem continues, the reader is given more details about the city. It is said to be a "ghoul-haunted woodland," which adds to the sense of horror and darkness. The city is also described as being "old" and "gray," which suggests that it has been around for a long time. The use of these adjectives creates a sense of decay and abandonment, which adds to the overall mood of the poem.

The next stanza of the poem introduces the idea of a "kingdom by the sea." This kingdom is said to be "fair" and "happy," which is in stark contrast to the city that lies beneath the sea. The use of this contrast is important, as it highlights the idea that there are two worlds at play here: one that is beautiful and happy, and one that is dark and haunted.

The poem then takes a turn, as the narrator begins to describe a "demon" that rules over the city in the sea. This demon is described as being "death-white," which is a powerful image that suggests that it is both powerful and terrifying. The demon is also said to be "unseen," which adds to the sense of mystery and horror.

The demon is said to have a "throne" in the city, which suggests that it is in control of everything that happens there. The use of the word "throne" is significant, as it suggests that the demon is a ruler or a king. This adds to the sense of power and control that the demon has over the city.

The poem then takes another turn, as the narrator begins to describe a "maiden" who lives in the kingdom by the sea. This maiden is said to be "radiant," which suggests that she is beautiful and pure. The use of this contrast is important, as it highlights the idea that there are two worlds at play here: one that is dark and haunted, and one that is beautiful and pure.

The maiden is said to be in love with a "youth" who lives in the kingdom by the sea. This youth is described as being "noble," which suggests that he is honorable and brave. The use of this contrast is important, as it highlights the idea that there are two worlds at play here: one that is dark and haunted, and one that is honorable and brave.

The poem then takes a dark turn, as the demon in the city in the sea begins to plot against the maiden and the youth. The demon is said to be jealous of their love, and it wants to destroy them. The use of this plot is significant, as it highlights the idea that there is evil in the world that wants to destroy love and happiness.

The poem then ends with a powerful image of the city in the sea being destroyed. The demon is said to have "laughed" as the city was destroyed, which suggests that it is evil and cruel. The use of this image is significant, as it highlights the idea that evil can destroy even the most beautiful and pure things in the world.

Overall, "The City In The Sea" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of darkness, horror, and love. The use of contrast and imagery is powerful, as it creates a sense of mystery and foreboding. The poem is a masterpiece of Edgar Allan Poe's work, and it is a testament to his skill as a writer.

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