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"Eulalie," or "Eulalie — A Song," is a poem by
The poem was first published as "Eulalie — A Song" in the July 1845 issue of the '' American Review'' — it was the only new poem Poe published that year,Quinn, Arthur Hobson. ''Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography''. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. p. 480. other than " The Raven".
"Eulalie," or "Eulalie — A Song," is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...
, first published in the July 1845 issue of '' The American Review'' and reprinted shortly thereafter in the August 9, 1845 issue of the '' Broadway Journal''.
Summary
The poem is a bridal song about a man who overcomes his sadness by marrying the beautiful Eulalie. The woman's love here has a transformative effect on the narrator, taking him from a "world of moan" to one of happiness.Analysis
The poem uses Poe's frequent theme of " the death of a beautiful woman," which he considered to be "the most poetical topic in the world." The use of this theme has often been suggested to be autobiographical by Poe critics and biographers, stemming from the repeated loss of women throughout Poe's life, including his motherEliza Poe
Eliza Poe ( Elizabeth Arnold; formerly Hopkins; 1787 – December 8, 1811) was an English actress and the mother of the American author Edgar Allan Poe.
Life and career
Elizabeth Arnold was born to Henry and Elizabeth Arnold in London in th ...
and his foster mother Frances Allan. If autobiographical, "Eulalie" may be referring to Poe's relationship with his wife Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. It seems to express that she lifted his spirits and washed away his feelings of loneliness. After Virginia's death in 1847, Poe scribbled on a manuscript copy of "Eulalie" a couplet
A couplet is a pair of successive lines of metre in poetry. A couplet usually consists of two successive lines that rhyme and have the same metre. A couplet may be formal (closed) or run-on (open). In a formal (or closed) couplet, each of the ...
, now known as " Deep in Earth." It is unclear if Poe intended this to be part of "Eulalie," an unfinished new poem, or just a personal note.
The name Eulalie emphasizes the letter " L," a frequent device in Poe's female characters such as " Annabel Lee," " Lenore," and "Ulalume
"Ulalume" () is a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1847. Much like a few of Poe's other poems (such as " The Raven", " Annabel Lee", and " Lenore"), "Ulalume" focuses on the narrator's loss of his beloved due to her death. Poe originally wrote t ...
."
Publication history
The poem was first published as "Eulalie — A Song" in the July 1845 issue of the '' American Review'' — it was the only new poem Poe published that year,Quinn, Arthur Hobson. ''Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography''. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. p. 480. other than " The Raven".
See also
*" Bridal Ballad" *"Ulalume
"Ulalume" () is a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1847. Much like a few of Poe's other poems (such as " The Raven", " Annabel Lee", and " Lenore"), "Ulalume" focuses on the narrator's loss of his beloved due to her death. Poe originally wrote t ...
"
* Poems by Edgar Allan Poe
References
External links
* * {{Edgar Allan Poe 1845 poems Poetry by Edgar Allan Poe Works originally published in The American Review: A Whig Journal