UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES

Eng17e-MSa/Engl18eMSa Stylistics & Discourse Analysis Literary

Criticism
Integrated

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

MIDTERM TASK & ASSIGNMENT

Kimberly T. Asico
19-36875
Dr. Fe Dulay-Villana
Title: The poem “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe:
A. Briefly describe Edgar Allan Poe’s life and characteristics. (8 sentences only for 8 points)
Edgar Allan Poe, born in 1809, was an American writer known for his dark, mysterious tales and
haunting poetry. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by John Allan, though their relationship was
strained. Poe struggled with financial difficulties throughout his life, which influenced his themes of
madness, death, and the macabre. Despite his challenges, he gained recognition for his works such as
"The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Raven," and "The Fall of the House of Usher." His writing style was
marked by its suspenseful atmosphere, intricate plots, and psychological depth. Poe's use of unreliable
narrators added to the unsettling nature of his stories. He died under mysterious circumstances in
1849, leaving behind a legacy as one of America's most influential literary figures.

B. Vocabulary: give one word definition for the following items: (5 points)
a. seraphs - Angels
b. kinsmen - Relatives
c. sepulchre - Tomb
d. dissever - Divide
e. coveted - desired

C. Give one example from the poem for each of the following kinds of “imagery”:
(6 points).

• visual imagery
"In a kingdom by the sea": This line sets the scene for the poem, invoking imagery of a
distant, romanticized kingdom by the ocean, adding an element of fairy tale-like fantasy.
• auditory imagery
"And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes / Of the beautiful Annabel Lee,": Here, the
repetition of the "s" sound in "stars," "rise," and "eyes" creates a soft, whispering effect,
suggesting the gentle rustle of stars and emphasizing the speaker's intimate connection with
Annabel Lee.
• kinaesthetic imagery
"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,": The sense of love being coveted
by heavenly beings implies a protective gesture, as if the speaker is shielding Annabel Lee
from harm with a physical embrace.
D. Identify words that rhyme in your chosen stanza/s in the poem such as: (4 points)
1. at the end of the line/s
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsmen came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
 In this kingdom by the sea.
2. internal rhyme within the line
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsmen came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.
E. Questions to Ponder
1. What caused the death of Annabel
Lee?
2. Give examples of alliteration from any
stanza in the poem.
3. Identify 2 examples of expressed
Hyperbole from the poem
In the poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan
Poe, the exact cause of Annabel Lee's death
is not explicitly stated. However, it is
implied that she died as a result of the
chilling wind blowing out of a cloud, which
is described in the second stanza.
The poem suggests that Annabel Lee's death
was sudden and tragic, caused by the
chilling effect of the wind. This event leads
to her being taken away by her highborn
kinsmen and laid to rest in a sepulchre by the
sea. While the poem does not provide further
details about the circumstances of her death,
it emphasizes the deep and enduring love
between the speaker and Annabel Lee, even
in death.
• "It was many and many a year ago, /
In a kingdom by the sea,"
Alliteration: "many" and "many"
• "For the moon never beams without
bringing me dreams /
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;"
Alliteration: "moon" and "me"
• "And so, all the night-tide, I lie
down by the side /
Of my darling—my darling—my life and
my bride,"
Alliteration: "night-tide" and "lie",
"darling—my darling—my"
• "But we loved with a love that was
more than love" - This line
exaggerates the intensity and depth
of the love shared between the

4. Why do you think the author keeps on
repeating “But our love with a love that
was more than love “ 3x to the least.
speaker and Annabel Lee,
suggesting that their love transcends
ordinary human affection.
• "all the night-tide" - This phrase
exaggerates the duration of time,
implying that the speaker spends
every moment of the night lying by
the side of Annabel Lee. It
emphasizes the speaker's intense
devotion and longing for his lost
love.
The repetition of "But we loved with a love
that was more than love" in "Annabel Lee"
emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the
bond between the speaker and Annabel Lee,
intensifying the emotional impact and
contributing to the poem's rhythmic
structure. This repetition reinforces the
central theme of undying love and devotion,
ensuring its resonance with the reader.