Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “Annabel Lee” was published posthumously in 1849, only two days after his death (Johnson). This poem deals with one of the author’s favorite subjects, the “death of a beautiful woman [which he believed was] unquestionably, the most poetic topic in the world” (Johnson).
Because this was Poe’s last poem to be published, many people questioned who the inspiration was for this poem. Although there were a few possible candidates, many people claimed that Virginia Clemm, Poe’s first wife, was “the only woman Poe ever loved” and must therefore have been the muse for his last poem (Jones). In fact, many interpret the line, “She was a child and I was a child,” as a hint to Virginia being Poe’s inspiration due to the fact that they were married when she was only thirteen years old, while Poe was twenty-seven, both being relatively young (Johnson). At this time, Poe had been living with his aunt, Maria Poe Clemm, and her daughter, Virginia, whom he eventually wed (“Edgar Allen Poe” 630). Unfortunately, when Virginia was only nineteen years old she began to have hemorrhages and five years later she died from tuberculosis (“Edgar Allen Poe” 631). It was said that Virginia Clemm was “the only stable element in [Poe’s] tempestuous life” and after her death he published a poem, “Ulalume,” that was inspired by his grief at the loss of his first love (“Edgar Allen Poe” 631).
Although many people believe that Virginia acted as his muse for this particular poem, there are also a few other possible candidates. Poe was later engaged at two other times in his life: first, to the poet Sarah Helen Whitman and then to Elmira Royster Shelton (“Edgar Allen Poe” 631-632). These and a few other women have either claimed to be, or were thought to be potential “Annabel Lees.”
Poe’s view on love was that it was “a spiritual passion that transcended human limits” (Johnson). Although he believed that poetry should strive towards beauty, he felt that its real topic should be love (Johnson). From this brief history of Edgar Allen Poe’s love life in reference to the poem “Annabel Lee”, we are able to see how death and love have not only had a powerful effect on his life, but also on his writing and the evident passion of his poetry.
“Edgar Allen Poe.” Author Introduction Overview. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Gen. ed. Nina Baym. 8th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2012. Print. 5 vols.
Johnson, Jeannine. “Overview of ‘Annabel Lee’.” Poetry for Students. Ed. Ira Mark Milne. Vol. 9. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Aug. 2013.
Jones, Buford, and Kent Ljungquist. “Poe, Mrs. Osgood, and ‘Annabel Lee,’.” Studies in the American Renaissance. Ed. Joel Myerson. University Press of Virginia, 1983. 275-280. Rpt. in Poetry for Students. Ed. Ira Mark Milne. Vol. 9. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Aug. 2013.
103A: American Literature from 1789 to 1900 