'To --' by Edgar Allan Poe

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The bowers whereat, in dreams, I see
The wantonest singing birds,
Are lips- and all thy melody
Of lip-begotten words-

Thine eyes, in Heaven of heart enshrined,
Then desolately fall,
O God! on my funereal mind
Like starlight on a pall-

Thy heart- thy heart!- I wake and sigh,
And sleep to dream till day
Of the truth that gold can never buy-
Of the baubles that it may.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Interpretation and Criticism of Edgar Allan Poe's "To --"

Edgar Allan Poe is known for his macabre tales and poetry, but his lesser-known works demonstrate a mastery of emotion and desire. "To --" is a poem that showcases this mastery, with its intense longing and yearning for a lost love. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a deep dive into the themes, structure, and language used in "To --" and explore its significance in Poe's canon.

Themes and Interpretation

The central theme of "To --" is love and loss. The speaker is addressing a lost love, someone who they long for but can never have again. The poem is imbued with a sense of desperation and yearning, as the speaker tries to come to terms with their separation from the beloved. The poem's title, "To --," is a reference to the lost love, whose name is never revealed, which adds to the sense of mystery and longing that permeates the poem.

The first stanza of the poem introduces this theme of love and loss, as the speaker describes the beauty of the lost love. The line "The bowers whereat, in dreams, I see" suggests that the speaker is imagining the beloved in a dreamlike state, perhaps indicating that they are no longer in the speaker's life. The phrase "myrtle and ivy" also carries symbolic weight, as myrtle was a symbol of love and ivy was a symbol of fidelity in ancient Greece. The use of these symbols reinforces the theme of love and loss, as the speaker longs for the love and fidelity that they have lost.

The second stanza of "To --" introduces the sense of desperation and yearning that permeates the poem. The speaker asks, "Is there – is there balm in Gilead?" which is a reference to a passage in the Bible (Jeremiah 8:22) that asks if there is healing for the wounds of the people of Israel. The use of this biblical reference suggests that the speaker is asking if there is any way to heal the wounds caused by the loss of the beloved. The repetition of the phrase "Nevermore" at the end of each line adds to the sense of desperation, as the speaker realizes that they will never be able to be with their love again.

The final stanza of the poem brings the themes of love and loss to their climax. The speaker declares that "the fever called 'Living' / Is conquered – and forgot!" This phrase suggests that the speaker has given up on life, as they no longer feel the desire to continue living without their love. The use of the word "fever" indicates that the speaker's longing for the beloved was all-consuming, like a fever, and that they have now overcome it. The final line, "To -- – to --, from the regions which / Are Holy-Land!" suggests that the speaker has found peace in death, and that they are now with their beloved in the afterlife.

Overall, "To --" is a poem of intense longing and desire, set against the backdrop of love and loss. The speaker's desperation and yearning are palpable, and the use of symbolism and biblical references reinforces the themes of the poem. The final stanza brings the themes of the poem to a climax, with the speaker finding peace in death and being reunited with their beloved.

Structure and Language

The structure of "To --" is relatively simple, with three stanzas of equal length. Each stanza is composed of four lines, with the first and third lines rhyming and the second and fourth lines rhyming. The use of this simple structure allows the focus to remain on the language of the poem and the emotions that it conveys.

The language of "To --" is both beautiful and haunting, with a sense of melancholy that pervades the poem. The use of repetition, such as the repeated phrase "Nevermore," adds to the sense of desperation and yearning that the speaker feels. The use of symbolism, such as the myrtle and ivy mentioned in the first stanza, reinforces the themes of the poem and adds depth to the language.

One of the most striking aspects of the language in "To --" is the use of alliteration and assonance. The repetition of consonant and vowel sounds adds to the musicality of the poem and reinforces its emotional impact. For example, in the first stanza, the alliteration of "bowers," "beauteous," and "bright" adds to the beauty of the language and reinforces the sense of longing that the speaker feels.

Significance in Poe's Canon

"To --" is not as well-known as some of Poe's other works, such as "The Raven" or "The Tell-Tale Heart," but it is no less significant. The poem showcases Poe's mastery of emotion and desire, and the way that he can convey complex emotions and themes through simple language and structure.

The themes of love and loss in "To --" are also present in many of Poe's other works, such as "Annabel Lee" and "The Oval Portrait." These themes were clearly important to Poe, and "To --" demonstrates his ability to explore them in a way that is both poignant and haunting.

Overall, "To --" is a poem that deserves to be better-known and more widely-read. Its themes of love and loss, and its haunting language and structure, make it a powerful work in Poe's canon and a testament to his mastery of emotion and desire.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry To -- by Edgar Allan Poe: A Masterpiece of Romanticism

Edgar Allan Poe, the master of Romanticism, is known for his dark and mysterious poems that explore the depths of human emotions. One of his most celebrated works is Poetry To --, a poem that captures the essence of the Romantic movement and showcases Poe's mastery of language and imagery.

The poem is addressed to an unknown recipient, referred to only as "To --," which adds to the mystery and intrigue of the piece. The speaker begins by declaring that poetry is the "rhythmical creation of beauty," and that it is the most divine of all art forms. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a passionate ode to the power of poetry.

Poe's use of language in Poetry To -- is nothing short of brilliant. He employs a variety of literary devices, including alliteration, assonance, and repetition, to create a musical quality to the poem. For example, in the first stanza, he writes:

"Of a starry night, a crescent moon, And the dreamy, languid tune Of the nightingale's sweet song."

Here, Poe uses alliteration to emphasize the "s" sound in "starry," "song," and "sweet," which creates a sense of harmony and beauty. He also uses assonance in the words "dreamy" and "languid," which adds to the dreamlike quality of the poem.

Throughout the poem, Poe uses vivid imagery to convey the power of poetry. He describes poetry as a "fountain" that "gushes evermore," and as a "wild rose" that "blooms with every passing hour." These images evoke a sense of abundance and vitality, suggesting that poetry is a source of endless inspiration and creativity.

Poe also explores the idea that poetry is a form of escapism, a way to transcend the mundane realities of everyday life. He writes:

"From the regions which are holy Where the loved ones, dead, are lowly, From the pallor of the present And the terrors of the past."

Here, Poe suggests that poetry can transport us to a realm beyond the physical world, where we can connect with the divine and the eternal. This idea is a hallmark of Romanticism, which emphasized the importance of imagination and emotion over reason and logic.

Another key theme in Poetry To -- is the idea that poetry is a form of self-expression, a way to communicate our innermost thoughts and feelings. Poe writes:

"From the red cliff of the mountain, From the sun that 'round me roll'd In its autumn tint of gold."

Here, he suggests that poetry is a way to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and to express our own emotions in a way that is both personal and universal.

Overall, Poetry To -- is a masterpiece of Romanticism, showcasing Poe's mastery of language and imagery. Through his use of vivid imagery and musical language, he conveys the power of poetry to transport us to a realm beyond the physical world, to express our innermost thoughts and feelings, and to connect with the divine and the eternal. It is a poem that continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day, a testament to Poe's enduring legacy as one of the greatest poets of all time.

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