Annabel Lee Group

Question:

fatboy1
fatboy1
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In the poem "Annabel Lee," to whom might the speaker have been referring when he speaks of "highborn kinsmen"?

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Posted by fatboy1 on Wednesday December 5, 2007 at 8:40 AM and tagged with annabel lee, poe, themes.

Answers:


  1. linda-allen Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The "highborn kinsmen" are Annabel Lee's relatives. We are not told why they disapprove of the speaker's relationship with Annabel Lee, but we can infer that he is from a lower socioeconomic class. After Annabel Lee's death, her relatives take possession of her remains and won't even allow the speaker to attend her funeral.

    Some scholars believe this poem is about Poe's love for and marriage to his cousin Virginia Clemm. Their families objected to their relationship not only because they were cousins but also because of the difference in their ages: he was 27 and she was 13!

    See the eNote discussion of themes in the poem.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/annabel-lee/themes

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    Posted by linda-allen on Wednesday December 5, 2007 at 11:57 AM

  2. bolbi6
    bolbi6 Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    I actually think its referring to God. Thats just a opinion though.

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    Posted by bolbi6 on Tuesday May 12, 2009 at 9:25 PM