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Mary Brandon Harrell

Mrs. Kirschner
English II- Block 1
9 October 2015
Dark Romanticism in Works of Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville
Edgar Allen Poe believes that memory [is] replete with horror- horror more horrible
from being vague, and terror more terrible from ambiguity (5). Writers during the time of Dark
Romanticism, which occurred in the mid 19th-century, experimented with different ways to
incorporate a creepy and horrific feeling, like this one, throughout their stories. Dark
Romanticism works usually consist of horrific themes that cover the ideas of struggles of human
nature, surroundings that could be filled with evil, and horrors of evil lurking in everyone.
Readers can find these horrific elements of Dark Romanticism in Berenice and Annabel
Lee, by Edgar Allan Poe, and The Lightning-Rod Man, by Herman Melville. Throughout the
works of Poe and Melville, Dark Romanticism is present through symbols, imagery, figurative
language, and theme.
Authors of the Dark Romantic time use common symbols to convey a sense of creepiness
and horror. In Annabel Lee the words kingdom, sea, and sepulchre are symbolized to create an
implied dark romantic theme. Kingdom and sea are symbols that signify a large place where the
love of the narrator and his companion exist. The symbol sepulchre creates an allusion to graves
and burials, which is a dark and creepy component of Dark Romanticism. In The Lightning-Rod
Man, the symbol of lightning can be seen as Gods wrath towards earth and all its people. The
lightning-rod man is trying to sell lightning rods to people during a time when their fears are at
an utmost high. He scams them into believing they need the lightning rods, fooling with their

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intellectual thoughts while they are the most vulnerable. Here, Melville shows a common
element of Dark Romanticism: evil is lurking within everyone. This symbol of the lightning-rod
man is the most prevalent in the story and shows a creepy attribution that evil is everywhere in
our surroundings. Also, Dark Romantics reveal these frightening thoughts through the use of
imagery.
Dark Romantic authors take the time to go beyond a simple description, creating
fascinating images with sensory details. Poe uses vivid detail and imagery in his story of
Berenice, to convey the disturbing atmosphere. For example, he writes, he pointed to the
garments; -they were muddy and clotted with gore (Poe 6). At this point in the short story,
readers discover that the narrator, who is mentally ill, unburies his lover and extracts all of her
teeth. This morbid thought and telling way to explain the extraction displays the disgusting
elements of Dark Romanticism and how authors use this to create impressive images for the
readers to absorb. Melville also utilizes this common method in his story, The Lightning-Rod
Man. In here, he expresses, with his right fore and middle fingers in his left wrist. But ere
the words had well escaped me, another exclamation escaped him (Melville 3). Melville is
displaying traits of Dark Romanticism as he seems to be implying a weirdness to the lightningrod man. Through these sensual explanations and images, Dark Romantic authors communicate
the truly gloomy feel of Dark Romanticism. Authors continue to communicate this through
figurative language and other elements in their pieces.
By analyzing the text deeply, readers can find figurative language and other devices that
help the piece go beyond its elementary meaning, generating a deeper, horrific meaning. In
Annabel Lee, the repetition of In a kingdom by the sea (Poe 2) establishes an important
meaning of it to the reader. This continued phrase shows the importance of that fact that the

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characters are in a lonely place where only their love can exist, causing an obsessive concept of
Dark Romanticism. In this story, Poe also writes about winged seraphs of heaven (11). While
people normally view angels as good, Poe twists this and views them as evil creatures that take
away Annabel Lee. These changes in good and evil are a result of the Dark Romantic thought
going around during this time.
Dark Romantics pieces usually have one common theme-- horror. While most authors
stray and make this theme more complex, all pieces can be connected through their common
theme and tone of horror. This theme of horror is exceedingly profound in the story Berenice.
Poe shows this when he says, dreams a cry as horror and dismay; and thereunto; after a pause,
succeeded the sound of troubled voices, intermingled with many low moaning of sorrow or of
pain (5). Here, the narrator remembers of a terrible time where even the unknown reached the
ultimate terror. Another way Dark Romantic author try to reveal a fearful theme is through
implicit meaning. Melville shows this in The Lightning-Rod Man when he implies an uneasy
feeling throughout the story through phrases like, he singularity impelled a closer scrutiny (1).
The story teaches readers to see evil in everything in their surroundings, which is one of the most
important aspects of Dark Romanticism. Authors communicate an undertone theme of horror and
terror, generating true elements of Dark Romanticism.
Berenice, Annabel Lee, and The Lightning-Rod Man all are key examples of Dark
Romantic pieces. They display essential characteristics of Dark Romanticism. Fearful symbols,
sensual imagery, vivid figurative language, and horrific themes are extremely prevalent
throughout the works. All Dark Romantic authors believe in these eerie aspects of Dark
Romanticism and examine the deeper meaning to the horrific life that lives in the minds of
everyone.

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Works Cited
Melville, Herman. "The Lightning-Rod Man." American Literature. American Literature Society,
21 Sept. 2011. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
Poe, Edgar Allan. "Annabel Lee." Edgar Allan Poe Works. Edgar Allan Poe Society of
Baltimore, 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 09 Oct. 2015.
Poe, Edgar Allan. "Berenice." Poestories. Design215 Inc., 27 June 2005. Web. 09 Oct. 2015.