Edgar Allan Poe often employs repetition in his poetry to enhance the tone and mood, creating an atmosphere of melancholy, despair, or eeriness. In poems like "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee," repetition serves to emphasize the speaker's emotions and the themes of loss and longing.
In "The Raven," for example, the refrain of "Nevermore" plays a crucial role in establishing the poem's tone. The speaker's desperation and descent into madness are highlighted each time the raven responds with this word. The repetition not only reinforces the finality of his loss but also amplifies the feeling of hopelessness. For instance, after the speaker asks the raven about reuniting with his lost Lenore, the raven's repeated response of "Nevermore" deepens the atmosphere of despair.
In "Annabel Lee," Poe uses the phrase "kingdom by the sea" to evoke a sense of nostalgia and idealized love. The repetition of this phrase creates a dreamlike quality, contributing to the tone of wistfulness. It reminds the reader of the enchanting yet tragic nature of the speaker's memories, reinforcing the theme of lost love.
Overall, Poe's use of repetition serves as a powerful tool to shape the emotional landscape of his poetry, reinforcing the themes of sorrow, longing, and the inescapable nature of loss. These repeated phrases linger in the reader's mind, enhancing the overall mood and making the speaker's anguish palpable.