Sonnet - Silence Analysis

There are some qualities- some incorporate things,

That have a double life, which thus is made

A type of that twin entity which springs

From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.

There is a two-fold Silence- sea and shore-

Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,

Newly with grass o'ergrown; some solemn graces,

Some human memories and tearful lore,

Render him terrorless: his name's "No More."

He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!

No power hath he of evil in himself;

But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)

Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,

That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod

No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!

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I believe that Poe is hinting something with the "body and soul", "sea and shore" bit. Each is nothing without the other, which interconnects with the idea of silence. Silence is nothing without noise.

| Posted on 2009-06-27 | by a guest

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I believe that Poe is hinting something with the "body and soul", "sea and shore" bit. Each is nothing without the other, which interconnects with the idea of silence. Silence is nothing without noise.

| Posted on 2009-06-27 | by a guest

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ok, i think you all are just plain nerdy.
idc about who he is-just give me some info about hhis poem so i can pass my class.

| Posted on 2009-02-20 | by a guest

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I have read conflicting stories. Did Poe really stay with the corpse of his mother two days prior to someone arriving?

| Posted on 2008-12-18 | by a guest

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EDGAR ALLAN POE WAS BOMB!!!! He had a Hitler Stache!!!! woot.

| Posted on 2008-12-16 | by a guest

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Poe did not have a wife Lenore. Lenore was made up to symbolize his wife VIRGINIA. If you're going to comment about an amazing writer like Poe, at least know what the hell you are talking about, genius.

| Posted on 2008-11-29 | by a guest

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all of you are idiots.... what does it really mean?

| Posted on 2008-11-03 | by a guest

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I disagree slightly with the last post. I don't believe it has to do with isolation, but I do believe it deals with the power (and with that danger) of the human psyche. The "nameless elf" is obviously a symbol for his wicked thoughts that roam "where hath trod no foot of man." He begins by showing how the mind begins untainted and undefiled with visual imagery "which springs from matter and light." However, the capacity of the mind is "evinced in solid and shade." He uses an alternating pattern to show the ability the mind has to be either good or evil and advises the reader to "commend thyself to God!"

| Posted on 2008-08-22 | by a guest

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Poe is explaning the dangeres of isolation. what the unconsious side of the mind will do to you if you break your line of demarcation (The Term Freud used to represent the barrier between the consious and the unconsious). Isolation and reclusivness can be an extreamly dangerous thing, people have gone mad from it. But isolation cant force itself upon you, only you can do that. "No power hath he of evil in himself;". Poe says if you are infact isolating yourself and are intelligent enough to know if and know what it is doing to you, then he (being somewhat of a pious person) urges you to give your self to god. he beleives that is the only way out of the abyss that is your mind. "But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!". To understand this poem takes a uniqe life, much like poe's to fully comprehend the terror of what can be found in your heawd. by yourself. I to warn you, socialize. as much as possible. keep talking.

| Posted on 2008-05-29 | by a guest

.: you :.

the first comment was really repetitive...
it got annoying. it was like deja vu over and over again....
grr...

| Posted on 2008-05-21 | by a guest

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On the contrary, I understand the poem to illustrate the side of Silence worth fearing to be Death, "nameless elf, that haunteth the lone regions where hath trod no foot of man". Poe makes out Silence's other identity to be the silence man can experience in the physical world, the silence of isolation and solemnity. He is not simply attempting to explain Death as the ultimate Silence as he is exploring the relationship between the physical and transcendental world and how they can both be represented in one thing (in this case Silence). The focus of the poem is not so much on the horror of Death as it is placed on the blurred line between the metaphysical and the real.

| Posted on 2007-12-10 | by a guest

.: Commentary :.

The above review is just repeated many times. I do not know why. I think Poe is talking about death also, but not just death. He talks about the Silence that comes as soon as death has gone. Since Poe's wife, Lenore, has died by the time this poem was written, we can assume that the death he is talking about is that of his wife Lenore. He mentions 2 different types of Silence. I take these 2 to be silence on a normal day with no sound, and silence almost as a loneliness that comes after death has come. He dreads this silence much because he loved his wife Lenore and all the comforting qualities she brought to him. But by his statement, "He is the corporate silence, dread him not," we can assume that Poe is not afraid of dying as well.

| Posted on 2007-02-28 | by a guest

.: Commentary :.

The above review is just repeated many times. I do not know why. I think Poe is talking about death also, but not just death. He talks about the Silence that comes as soon as death has gone. Since Poe's wife, Lenore, has died by the time this poem was written, we can assume that the death he is talking about is that of his wife Lenore. He mentions 2 different types of Silence. I take these 2 to be silence on a normal day with no sound, and silence almost as a loneliness that comes after death has come. He dreads this silence much because he loved his wife Lenore and all the comforting qualities she brought to him. But by his statement, "He is the corporate silence, dread him not," we can assume that Poe is not afraid of dying as well.

| Posted on 2007-02-28 | by a guest

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I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life...I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.I think it means you should take life head on and not fear death. The corporate silence is death and he says "He is the corporate silence, dread him not". Edgar Allen Poe then continues to say "No power hath he of evil in himself" meaning death has no power over your life, do not let the fear of death run your life.

| Posted on 2005-04-24 | by Approved Guest