Topics for Further Study
- In this poem, Poe envisions an ideal love set in "a kingdom by the sea." Craft a poem where you designate a specific location for a perfect love. Would it be in a rural area, an urban setting, the mountains, or by the coast? Describe what it would feel like to have a beloved buried in that place, which you associate with a lively, passionate love.
- When this poem was penned in 1849, America was an expanding nation, grappling with conflicting views between the North and South regarding whether new states should permit slavery. In contrast, "Annabel Lee" is set in a well-established social structure, a kingdom. Discuss what you think nostalgia might have felt like for Americans at that time, both for those who were part of the established order and those who were pushing the frontier.
- Similar to much of Poe's poetry, "Annabel Lee" features a distinct and recognizable rhythm. Try setting this poem to music, using either original instrumentation or melodies sampled from other songs.
- Investigate the seven stages of grief as outlined by psychologist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Identify which of these stages the narrator of the poem is experiencing at different points throughout the poem.
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