The first stanza of the poem “Romance” by Edgar Allan Poe reveals the theme that romantic notions shape one’s youth. The stanza reflects on the speaker's childhood experiences with innocence and imagination, symbolized by the painted paroquet and the act of learning to speak while surrounded by nature. The imagery suggests that the experiences of youth are intertwined with romantic ideals and a connection to the natural world.
Read the poem “Romance,” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Romance, who loves to nod and sing,
With drowsy head and folded wing,
Among the green leaves as they shake
Far down within some shadowy lake,
To me a painted paroquet
Hath been- a most familiar bird-
Taught me my alphabet to say-
To lisp my very earliest word
While in the wild wood I did lie,
A child- with a most knowing eye.
Of late, eternal Condor years
So shake the very Heaven on high
With tumult as they thunder by,
I have no time for idle cares
Through gazing on the unquiet sky.
And when an hour with calmer wings
Its down upon my spirit flings-
That little time with lyre and rhyme
To while away- forbidden things!
My heart would feel to be a crime
Unless it trembled with the strings.
What theme of the poem does the first stanza reveal?
Nature is the world’s teacher.
Romantic notions shape one’s youth.
Children should spend time outside.
Nature is full of romantic notions
11 answers
But we loved with a love that was more than love—
I and my Annabel Lee—
With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven
Coveted her and me.
How does the excerpt reflect Poe’s ideas in "The Poetic Principle"?
The images of love are the “Rhythmical Creation of Beauty” that Poe outlines.
The story of Annabel Lee’s life creates the “satisfaction of the Reason” that Poe describes.
The angels of heaven are described with the “incitements of Passion” that Poe explains.
The feelings of love are explained using the “lessons of Truth” that Poe explains.
The excerpt from "Annabel Lee" reflects Poe’s ideas in "The Poetic Principle" in that the images of love are the “Rhythmical Creation of Beauty” that Poe outlines. The lines convey a deep, idealized love that transcends ordinary emotion, and the lyrical quality of the language contributes to the beauty of the imagery. This aligns with Poe's belief that poetry should create a sense of beauty and evoke strong emotions through careful and rhythmic language.
Romance, who loves to nod and sing,
With drowsy head and folded wing,
Among the green leaves as they shake
Far down within some shadowy lake
How do the ideas in the excerpt compare to Poe’s ideas in "The Poetic Principle"?
The shaded lake described here prompts the “incitements of Passion” that Poe outlines.
The activity described here reflects the “precepts of Duty” that Poe outlines.
The depth of love described here reveals the “lessons of Truth” that Poe explains.
The metaphor for romance encourages the “contemplation of the Beautiful” that Poe explains.
The ideas in the excerpt from “Romance” compare to Poe’s ideas in "The Poetic Principle" in that the metaphor for romance encourages the “contemplation of the Beautiful” that Poe explains. The imagery of Romance personified as something drowsy and serene in a natural setting evokes a sense of beauty and calm, prompting contemplation and appreciation of the aesthetic qualities of love and nature. This aligns with Poe's belief that poetry should inspire a sense of beauty and elevate the reader's emotional experience.
Vast forms that move fantastically
To a discordant melody;
While, like a rapid ghastly river,
Through the pale door,
A hideous throng rush out forever
How does Poe use a sound device in the excerpt?
He uses euphony to illustrate the constancy of nature.
He uses alliteration to draw attention to the suffering.
He uses cacophony to emphasize the evil nature of tragedy.
He uses internal rhyme to enhance the rhythm of his lyrical poem.
In the excerpt from “In the Greenest of Our Valleys,” Poe uses cacophony to emphasize the evil nature of tragedy. The use of harsh and discordant sounds, such as "discordant melody" and "hideous throng," creates a sense of discomfort and chaos, which underscores the darker themes and the sense of horror present in the imagery. This sound device effectively conveys the unsettling feelings associated with the subject matter.
Thou wast all that to me, love,
For which my soul did pine-
A green isle in the sea, love,
A fountain and a shrine,
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
And all the flowers were mine.
How are the ideas in the excerpt similar to Poe’s ideas in the first stanza of "Annabel Lee"?
Both introduce familiar young women.
Both compare women to nature’s beauty.
Both describe powerful, controlling women.
Both recall an all-consuming love.
The ideas in the excerpt from “To One in Paradise” are similar to Poe’s ideas in the first stanza of "Annabel Lee" in that both recall an all-consuming love. In both poems, the speaker expresses profound and overwhelming love for a woman who holds great significance to them. This love is depicted as deep, idealized, and integral to the speaker's existence, highlighting the intensity of their emotions in both works.
And neither the angels in Heaven above
Nor the demons down under the sea
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
What theme does the excerpt reveal?
True love endures forever.
Beauty stands the test of time.
Angels and demons have no power.
Souls suffer after death.
The excerpt from "Annabel Lee" reveals the theme that true love endures forever. The lines express the idea that the bond between the speaker and Annabel Lee is unbreakable, transcending even the influences of angels and demons. This underscores the notion that their love is eternal and cannot be severed by any external force, emphasizing the depth and permanence of their connection.