Alone Analysis

From childhood's hour I have not been

As others were; I have not seen

As others saw; I could not bring

My passions from a common spring.

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow; I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone;

And all I loved, I loved alone.

Then- in my childhood, in the dawn

Of a most stormy life- was drawn

From every depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still:

From the torrent, or the fountain,

From the red cliff of the mountain,

From the sun that round me rolled

In its autumn tint of gold,

From the lightning in the sky

As it passed me flying by,

From the thunder and the storm,

And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)

Of a demon in my view.

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Although the interpretations here are amusingly beautiful, I should point out the poetry for what it is. He is, truthfully being blunt, in a poetic way granted. This thought pattern is the desciption of the onset of depression and the mockery and superficial superiorty that comes with it. Although being different is not necessarily means of being depressed, it isn't an uncommon thing to be picked up on by those suffering, particularly those who are quickly hurt. Disguises of superiority, and portraying to yourself and others that you are more powerful for your differences are a charade, conscious or subconsious, so that only those who /do/ see things the same way, or are somehow in tune, trustworthy people who are deliberately trying to see past it all will get through. It's a very carefully thought out wall of barriers. He expresses no remorse within the poem and in the times this was written it would be dictated more as 'I am someone who has the power to be different.' That is how it is written but in the de-sensitised life of today where we interact differently, and where there is not one set of social norms and values but many, we replace the emptiness of the poem with the ideal of the time. But if you read carefully, the only emotion he expresses actually filling is that of curiosity of his differences.

| Posted on 2010-02-08 | by a guest

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For me this poem is about so many things. It's about growing up lonely, being different. Not understanding. Existing on a different wavelength. Your mind just not working in tune with the other children, rather being more of an observer. I was different because I seemed to be more in tune with my subconscious than other kids. I seemed to understand things on an emotional level that they didn't. This poem speaks to me there and makes me realize that we may be alone in our surroundings but there will always be someone out there like you that would understand given the chance to speak with them.
It's also about finding inspiration. Being proud and finding beauty. Truly being able to see everything for what it is. Changing your perspective. Also being mindful, whether you're on the path of light or dark, keeping sure that it is YOUR path that you choose. Being mindful and keeping doubt, because you may never find someone like you that you can compare your life to. You can never know for sure if your actions and feelings are good or bad for that reason, you can only question yourself and move on.
Be alone. Be yourself. Have no regrets.

| Posted on 2010-02-06 | by a guest

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You should actually analyze the poem not just repeat it. I've seen the poem a bunch of times, but never found what I was looking for. ANALYZE IT!

| Posted on 2010-02-01 | by a guest

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I think that Mr. Poe is trying to tell us a basic story here. He's basically telling the story of how he came to relize he was different and truly alone.

| Posted on 2010-01-31 | by a guest

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I believe Poe was inspired by many a thing. As a writter myself, I find it easiest to write when I'm full of a torrent of emotion, and while I write I stumble across revelations. I don't make revelations and then write it down, it's all in the process. And so, I believe Poe was talking of his ability to stay away from the norm, and realizing how much he loved that he could do this. Everyone is saying how sad this poem is, but I think it's a prowess. Flaunting what he is and not giving a damn what others think! Or, at least trying to convince himself he doesn't care. Because, whether we like it or not, all humans need assurance that what they do and what they think they know is normal and correct.

| Posted on 2010-01-24 | by a guest

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I'm sure we are all poets here, or artists in other ways. The first time I read this poem, and other times as well, I felt that it was gloomy, and that no matter where Mr. Poe went, the darkness was with him. That being one interpretation, I also believe that, maybe, he is like us, in the fact that, us as artists and poets, do not find joy or sorrow from the same springs as normal people. What others may see as light, the poet sees as darkness. What may cause others to laugh, may cause the poet to cry.
Artists view the world differently, and lots of times, we view ourselves as "special", or just "different" form others.
When I awaken my heart to joy, it is, indeed, at a much different tone than others. One example, I adore dissonant Music, and sometimes it helps me sleep, whereas others despise dissonance (which is appalling to me).
Anybody get my drift? Or am I just a poet?

| Posted on 2010-01-23 | by a guest

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I'm sure we are all poets here, or artists in other ways. The first time I read this poem, and other times as well, I felt that it was gloomy, and that no matter where Mr. Poe went, the darkness was with him. That being one interpretation, I also believe that, maybe, he is like us, in the fact that, us as artists and poets, do not find joy or sorrow from the same springs as normal people. What others may see as light, the poet sees as darkness. What may cause others to laugh, may cause the poet to cry.
Artists view the world differently, and lots of times, we view ourselves as "special", or just "different" form others.
When I awaken my heart to joy, it is, indeed, at a much different tone than others. One example, I adore dissonant Music, and sometimes it helps me sleep, whereas others despise dissonance (which is appalling to me).
Anybody get my drift? Or am I just a poet?

| Posted on 2010-01-23 | by a guest

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''i'm not like you people, there is much to me than you can ever see !!'' i totally agree i think he suffers because he wishes to find someone like him who can see the world like he does so he won't feel alone anymore but he lost his hope.it's also a warning i think. he warns others about his soul which is torned.

| Posted on 2010-01-08 | by a guest

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I think he is a happy guy, that is just really misunderstood.

| Posted on 2009-12-16 | by a guest

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To me it means that he does not feel like he fits in. You can be surrounded by people and still feel like you don't connect. It appears he keeps reaching for hope and happiness, but those feelings of not fitting in are the demon that never "allows" him to attain happiness.

| Posted on 2009-12-10 | by a guest

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Something that seems to be overlooked is the time this was written.
This was written after (or during, I forget) his college days. A time when his relationship with John Allan was becoming estranged, he was denied by his loves father for "permission" to marry her, and other such things. This, like many in his life, were horrible times for him.
So, I have no doubt in my mind that those things played a huge role in writing this.
This is expressing his isolation, and revelations he made during this time.
Loneliness, rejection, sorrow, but also courage.

| Posted on 2009-12-04 | by a guest

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The poem is oftenly speaking for itself, it is a statement of individuality and originality, one who's isolated from the world of man, cannot draw -for the same reasons- his happiness, sorrow, from the world of man !!
Poe here, is a defying example to that, some people have faced trials that none has ever dreamingly stumpled upon.
I for one believe, as far as my analysis go, that the poet only meant to say that I'm not like you people, there is much to me than you can ever see !!

| Posted on 2009-11-21 | by a guest

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The poem is oftenly speaking for itself, it is a statement of individuality and originality, one who's isolated from the world of man, cannot draw -for the same reasons- his happiness, sorrow, from the world of man !!
Poe here, is a defying example to that, some people have faced trials that none has ever dreamingly stumpled upon.
I for one believe, as far as my analysis go, that the poet only meant to say that I'm not like you people, there is much to me than you can ever see !!

| Posted on 2009-11-21 | by a guest

.: :.

The poem is oftenly speaking for itself, it is a statement of individuality and originality, one who's isolated from the world of man, cannot draw -for the same reasons- his happiness, sorrow, from the world of man !!
Poe here, is a defying example to that, some people have faced trials that none has ever dreamingly stumpled upon.
I for one believe, as far as my analysis go, that the poet only meant to say that I'm not like you people, there is much to me than you can ever see !!

| Posted on 2009-11-21 | by a guest

.: :.

The poem is oftenly speaking for itself, it is a statement of individuality and originality, one who's isolated from the world of man, cannot draw -for the same reasons- his happiness, sorrow, from the world of man !!
Poe here, is a defying example to that, some people have faced trials that none has ever dreamingly stumpled upon.
I for one believe, as far as my analysis go, that the poet only meant to say that I'm not like you people, there is much to me than you can ever see !!

| Posted on 2009-11-21 | by a guest

.: :.

The poem is oftenly speaking for itself, it is a statement of individuality and originality, one who's isolated from the world of man, cannot draw -for the same reasons- his happiness, sorrow, from the world of man !!
Poe here, is a defying example to that, some people have faced trials that none has ever dreamingly stumpled upon.
I for one believe, as far as my analysis go, that the poet only meant to say that I'm not like you people, there is much to me than you can ever see !!

| Posted on 2009-11-21 | by a guest

.: :.

The poem is oftenly speaking for itself, it is a statement of individuality and originality, one who's isolated from the world of man, cannot draw -for the same reasons- his happiness, sorrow, from the world of man !!
Poe here, is a defying example to that, some people have faced trials that none has ever dreamingly stumpled upon.
I for one believe, as far as my analysis go, that the poet only meant to say that I'm not like you people, there is much to me than you can ever see !!

| Posted on 2009-11-21 | by a guest

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I absulotely love this poem. It shows so much about awareness and courage. I'll explain- the speaker is a hero to me, cause although a lot of people may feel the same way, most of them are caving in to the norms of society and don't have the courage to say: "and all i loved, i loved alone". Instead, they start loving other things that are fit to the social norms and start lying to themeselves about things that make them happy in life. As Poe well-put it: "From the same source I have not awaken/ My heart to joy at the same tone". Rather he wanted to express the way he felt abput his childhood or saying his thoughts about this subject in generally, i admire the narrative voice in this poem. The most amazing thing about this poem is that Poe leaves the readers without answering the question what is the mystery which binds him still.

| Posted on 2009-10-16 | by rog

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What a sad life he had. Know wonder he died at an early age because of all the loneliness and know sense of peace or control in his life. Poor guy!

| Posted on 2009-10-15 | by a guest

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I find that many of the analysis's here are correct in their own way but what a lot of people here are forgetting is that even though the poem might very well be about Poe, there is a speaker & the speaker could also be a whole different person. Anyway I find that this poem is simply about Loneliness and how it affected his view on life and other people. It tells the story of a child who was never like the rest of the kids he's heard about. He never saw what they saw or heard what he heard. everything was different for him and that was because he was abandoned and outcasted.

| Posted on 2009-09-06 | by a guest

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People are applying unnecessary symbolism to this poem. He's simply saying that he's never been the same as anyone and he knows it. He doesn't laugh at their jokes because they're not funny. He doesn't cringe at what frightens them because he's seen worse and that's normal for him. He literally saw a demon-shaped cloud and no one else seemed to notice for the same reason that colour blind folk can't read those numbers in those circle things.

| Posted on 2009-09-05 | by a guest

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the poem is so personal that it touches everyone who wil read it... i think, edgar allan poe is just saying what he experienced in his childhood.... since most of his works are of on morbid themes, this poem "alone" is something that he believesd is the summary of his journey in life and all the love that loses in him... still, he make it a point to impart something about him.

| Posted on 2009-07-18 | by a guest

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When he says "in a childhood... was drawn" he is continuing the metaphor of the sources of emotion. Therefore the following, nature and the sublime, are what he liked.
The cloud that takes the form of a demon is a metonymy for all of these sources of pleasure. It's just him wishing he was normal. That he refers to the sky as heaven just means that he sees the lives of other people as heaven. I disagree with any religious interpretation of this.
This poem resonates with me, particularly I'd always had emotions evoked from "red cliffs". There is almost certainly another layer of depth that I haven't gotten into.

| Posted on 2009-06-10 | by a guest

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this is beautiful poetry and it saddens me that some posted comments view this poem in the wrong way, for this is not optimistic it is sorrow filled, Poe had a tragic life and here he convey's his message through this wonderful art. He tells of his life and the tragedy of it all, he never fit in. The demon has been expressed as many things such as himself or even death, in my opinion there is no right answer but what you make this creature to be.

| Posted on 2009-05-26 | by a guest

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The poem is not just one meter or foot. It switches throughout the poem. The first line is iambic pentameter, then it is iambic tetrameter for 7 lines, then it is trochaic tetrameter for 6 lines, then the second to last line is iambic pentameter and it closes with trochaic tetrameter.

| Posted on 2009-05-20 | by a guest

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This poem is brilliant. It starts out talking about his childhood and how he was never like others and always alone. Then in the middle of the poem it shifts with a realization. He realizes through opening up to God's creations he is the demon obstructing his own future.

| Posted on 2009-05-20 | by a guest

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Poe felt that he was a demon. Damned. He felt that no divine influence or benevolent forces could rescue his soul. Whether be believed in anything but himself, no one will know. This poem show he knew he existed. Not that he understood, but that he knew. And he was his own private demon. Beautiful. Dangerous.

| Posted on 2009-05-11 | by a guest

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poe obiously has a grate caricature of his own style, and i think he uses his corrupt childhood as a backbone

| Posted on 2009-05-08 | by a guest

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i feel this peom was written do to his sad sarrow life. he would write these peoms to releive himself fom is bad memories.

| Posted on 2009-05-06 | by a guest

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i feel this peom was written do to his sad sarrow life. he would write these peoms to releive himself fom is bad memories.

| Posted on 2009-05-06 | by a guest

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I agree with the general opinion that Poe felt alone (hence the title) and rejected when writing 'Alone', but in referal to the lines '(When the rest of Heaven was blue)Of a demon in my view' - it would be assumed that heaven was a desirable thing to see and a demon not, but the colour blue generally has connetations of depression and sorrow(admitedly as well as tranquility) - perhaps a demon would be more 'exciting', shall I say, than the rest of heaven that was blue?

| Posted on 2009-04-25 | by a guest

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Poe was truly revealing himself in this poem which is probably why it was not printed during his life. What it shows us is his true soul. He was a sad and isolated man that always felt that he was different, so much so that it kept him from acknowledging simple things as they were. His imagination was dark and twisted compared with those around him. This fact caused him to resent his imagination which is apparent in this poem. It is my favorite, by the way. I think we can all relate to this kind of sorrow. Who hasn't felt like an outcast at some point in their life?

| Posted on 2009-04-25 | by a guest

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In my opinion(Correct me if im wrong, for i am still in high school), the world around him, as portraied in this poem, is everyone else's life - by which i mean their normality and overall possative outcome. Ya know, walking away from their problems a better man?
In the beginning of the poem, When he says the line "In my childhood, in the dawn of a most stormy life", He is starting to see that not everyone's life is as depressing as his. As for the demon in his view, that can simply be his downfalls, such as alcoholism and depression.
Then again, im just a kid, and this could be 100% false. Reality is what you make of it, and that is my reality. :3

| Posted on 2009-04-20 | by a guest

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This poem is about being unusually aware of ones own mortality. The "demon in my view" is, simply, death.

| Posted on 2009-04-18 | by a guest

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I think that this poem is a very moving peace by poe. It tells of sorrow and how he could not be happy or sad he was alone and had no one to realate to. His childhood was not the same as others it was a horrible time that could of lead to the maddness when he was older.When he loved something he was alone. He than says something about a demon in his veiw which might of ment there was a crsis at the time.... :)

| Posted on 2009-04-06 | by a guest

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I think that this poem is a very moving peace by poe. It tells of sorrow and how he could not be happy or sad he was alone and had no one to realate to. His childhood was not the same as others it was a horrible time that could of lead to the maddness when he was older.When he loved something he was alone. He than says something about a demon in his veiw which might of ment there was a crsis at the time.... :)

| Posted on 2009-04-06 | by a guest

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i think hes talking about his childlife and saying that it is flying by him and that he can see maddness in the futute which he describes as a demon in the poem

| Posted on 2009-04-05 | by a guest

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I think it is interesting to consider the significance of the "Then-" that effectively divides the poem into two parts. In the beginning, he is alone and cannot be inspired or affected by the "common spring," or the social conventions and fads that capture most of society. All of a sudden, "Then-," he has the revelation of what the majority of people live for, and it is terrible. It is a shadowy-Devil in what was once a beautiful blue sky. Although he may have enjoyed his solitude without the imposing evils of the "common spring," he cannot ignore what he saw and will forever contemplate on the evils and ignorance the common human.

| Posted on 2009-03-17 | by a guest

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a lot of people are putting a negative, dark spin on this poem, and I think It's quite the opposite. He is alone in his thoughts and views the world much differently than most others. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, he may see the world in a more beautiful light than others normally see it.
he's saying that in the midst of his dark childhood "in the dawn of a most stormy life", he discovers the mysterious beauty of life. "From every depth of good and ill; The mystery which binds me still."
I think he believes he was alone in revelling in the wonder, mystery and beauty of the world. He accepts that he is alone in feeling this, but it's a beautiful way of thinking I believe, even if you're the only one who understands it.

| Posted on 2009-03-12 | by a guest

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During my four year sentence in a Geogia State Prison I aquired quite a few tattoos including a full back mural depicting the reason for my incarceration.
Included in this mural is Poe's poem, "Alone". I searched the prison library for months in search of the perfect literature to complete my tattoo and knew I had found it when I read "Alone". I have not known, until tonight, five years after receiving the peice, what the demon in the last line refered to.
I used to relate the demon to the woman in my life that assisted in my incarceration. But the demon is me just as Poe knew it was himself that was the demon.
The demon was only revealed to Poe after he opened his eyes to all of God's creation, "every depth of good and ill","the torrent,or the fountain","the red cliff of the mountain","the sun that round me rolled","the thunder and the storm, and the cloud that took the form". He opened his eyes to all this and saw he was the only thing that didn't fit. This is evident in the line, "(When the rest of Heaven was blue)". He saw that every thing in God's creation fit. It was all "blue" but himself. He was the demon in his view.
I just wonder if he ever figured out "the mystery that binds me still" was never meant for him to figure out. When the mystery is too much for you to figure out, you just let it be one of God's mysteries and then it all fits. It's called faith.

| Posted on 2009-02-28 | by a guest