'Ulalume' by Edgar Allan Poe


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The skies they were ashen and sober;
The leaves they were crisped and sere-
The leaves they were withering and sere;
It was night in the lonesome October
Of my most immemorial year;
It was hard by the dim lake of Auber,
In the misty mid region of Weir-
It was down by the dank tarn of Auber,
In the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir.

Here once, through an alley Titanic,
Of cypress, I roamed with my Soul-
Of cypress, with Psyche, my Soul.
There were days when my heart was volcanic
As the scoriac rivers that roll-
As the lavas that restlessly roll
Their sulphurous currents down Yaanek
In the ultimate climes of the pole-
That groan as they roll down Mount Yaanek
In the realms of the boreal pole.

Our talk had been serious and sober,
But our thoughts they were palsied and sere-
Our memories were treacherous and sere-
For we knew not the month was October,
And we marked not the night of the year-
(Ah, night of all nights in the year!)
We noted not the dim lake of Auber-
(Though once we had journeyed down here),
Remembered not the dank tarn of Auber,
Nor the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir.

And now, as the night was senescent,
And star-dials pointed to morn-
As the star-dials hinted of morn-
At the end of our path a liquescent
And nebulous lustre was born,
Out of which a miraculous crescent
Arose with a duplicate horn-
Astarte's bediamonded crescent
Distinct with its duplicate horn.

And I said- "She is warmer than Dian:
She rolls through an ether of sighs-
She revels in a region of sighs:
She has seen that the tears are not dry on
These cheeks, where the worm never dies,
And has come past the stars of the Lion,
To point us the path to the skies-
To the Lethean peace of the skies-
Come up, in despite of the Lion,
To shine on us with her bright eyes-
Come up through the lair of the Lion,
With love in her luminous eyes."

But Psyche, uplifting her finger,
Said- "Sadly this star I mistrust-
Her pallor I strangely mistrust:-
Oh, hasten!- oh, let us not linger!
Oh, fly!- let us fly!- for we must."
In terror she spoke, letting sink her
Wings until they trailed in the dust-
In agony sobbed, letting sink her
Plumes till they trailed in the dust-
Till they sorrowfully trailed in the dust.

I replied- "This is nothing but dreaming:
Let us on by this tremulous light!
Let us bathe in this crystalline light!
Its Sybilic splendor is beaming
With Hope and in Beauty to-night:-
See!- it flickers up the sky through the night!
Ah, we safely may trust to its gleaming,
And be sure it will lead us aright-
We safely may trust to a gleaming
That cannot but guide us aright,
Since it flickers up to Heaven through the night."

Thus I pacified Psyche and kissed her,
And tempted her out of her gloom-
And conquered her scruples and gloom;
And we passed to the end of the vista,
But were stopped by the door of a tomb-
By the door of a legended tomb;
And I said- "What is written, sweet sister,
On the door of this legended tomb?"
She replied- "Ulalume- Ulalume-
'Tis the vault of thy lost Ulalume!"

Then my heart it grew ashen and sober
As the leaves that were crisped and sere-
As the leaves that were withering and sere-
And I cried- "It was surely October
On this very night of last year
That I journeyed- I journeyed down here-
That I brought a dread burden down here-
On this night of all nights in the year,
Ah, what demon has tempted me here?
Well I know, now, this dim lake of Auber-
This misty mid region of Weir-
Well I know, now, this dank tarn of Auber,
This ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir."

Editor 1 Interpretation

Ulalume: A Hauntingly Beautiful Poem by Edgar Allan Poe

Ulalume is a hauntingly beautiful poem written by the legendary American writer, Edgar Allan Poe. This poem, which was published in 1847, is a masterpiece of Gothic literature that explores the themes of grief, loss, and death. It is a tale of a man who is haunted by the memory of his lost love and who wanders aimlessly through the night in search of her. This poem is a true gem of American literature, and it has captivated readers for over a century.

The Mystery of Ulalume

The first thing that strikes the reader about Ulalume is its mysteriousness. The poem begins with the narrator wandering aimlessly through the woods on a dark and dreary night. The narrator is haunted by the memory of his lost love, Ulalume, and he is in search of her. The poem is full of cryptic references and symbols that add to its enigmatic aura.

For example, the narrator mentions a "dim lake of Auber" and a "ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir." These are not real places, but rather symbols that represent the narrator's state of mind. The lake of Auber represents the narrator's subconscious, while the woodland of Weir represents the darkness and despair that he feels.

The Language of Ulalume

One of the most impressive things about Ulalume is the language that Poe uses. The poem is full of vivid and beautiful imagery that helps to reinforce its haunting atmosphere. Poe uses a variety of literary devices, including alliteration, repetition, and personification, to create a sense of foreboding.

For example, in the following lines, Poe uses alliteration to emphasize the dreariness of the night:

"It was night, and the rain fell;
And, falling, it was rain, but, having fallen,
It was blood."

These lines are both beautiful and eerie, and they help to set the tone for the rest of the poem.

The Themes of Ulalume

Ulalume is a poem that explores the themes of grief, loss, and death. The narrator is haunted by the memory of his lost love, Ulalume, and he is in search of her. The poem is a meditation on the nature of grief, and it explores the ways in which we try to cope with loss.

Throughout the poem, the narrator is depicted as being lost and confused. He wanders through the woods, unsure of where he is going or what he is looking for. This sense of aimlessness is a reflection of the narrator's grief. He is lost in a world without Ulalume, and he is searching for something that he can never find.

The Symbolism of Ulalume

Ulalume is a poem that is rich in symbolism. Poe uses a variety of symbols to represent the narrator's state of mind and his feelings of loss and despair.

For example, the narrator mentions a "tomb by the sounding sea." This tomb represents the final resting place of Ulalume, and it is a symbol of the narrator's grief. The sea, which is a symbol of eternity, represents the permanence of death.

Throughout the poem, Poe uses a variety of other symbols, including the moon, the stars, and the wind. All of these symbols help to reinforce the poem's haunting atmosphere and its themes of grief and loss.

The Conclusion of Ulalume

Ulalume is a poem that ends on a haunting note. The narrator is unable to find Ulalume, and he is left wandering through the woods, lost and alone. The final lines of the poem are some of the most beautiful and haunting in American literature:

"And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more."

These lines are a reflection of the narrator's state of mind. He is lost and alone, and he is haunted by the memory of Ulalume. The poem ends on a note of uncertainty, leaving the reader to wonder what will become of the narrator.

The Legacy of Ulalume

Ulalume is a poem that has had a profound impact on American literature. It is a masterpiece of Gothic literature that has influenced generations of writers. Its haunting atmosphere and vivid imagery have captivated readers for over a century.

Ulalume is a testament to the genius of Edgar Allan Poe. It is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the themes of grief, loss, and death. Poe's use of language and symbolism is masterful, and his ability to create a sense of foreboding is truly remarkable.

In conclusion, Ulalume is a poem that deserves to be read and appreciated by anyone who loves great literature. It is a true masterpiece of American literature, and it will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Edgar Allan Poe is a name that resonates with the literary world. He is known for his dark and mysterious tales that have captivated readers for generations. One of his most famous works is the poem "Ulalume," which was first published in 1847. This poem is a haunting and eerie tale that explores themes of grief, loss, and the inevitability of death. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning behind "Ulalume" and explore the literary techniques that Poe uses to create such a haunting and unforgettable work.

The poem begins with the speaker describing his journey through a dark and eerie forest on the night of the "last day of the year." He is accompanied by his beloved Ulalume, who is described as a "maiden" with "raven tresses." The speaker is filled with a sense of foreboding and unease as he travels deeper into the forest. He is haunted by memories of a lost love and is searching for a way to ease his pain.

As the speaker and Ulalume continue their journey, they come across a "ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir." This is a reference to the ancient city of Weir, which was destroyed by a flood. The speaker is drawn to this place, and he feels a sense of familiarity with it. He describes it as a "region of sorrow," which suggests that he is seeking solace in his grief.

As the night wears on, the speaker becomes increasingly agitated. He is tormented by the memory of his lost love and is unable to find peace. He begins to see strange visions and hears eerie sounds. He describes the forest as "ghoul-haunted," which suggests that he is being pursued by supernatural forces.

The climax of the poem comes when the speaker and Ulalume come across a tomb. The tomb is described as "ghastly" and "ghoulish," and the speaker is filled with a sense of dread. He realizes that he has been drawn to this place by some unknown force, and he is powerless to resist it. He begins to dig at the tomb, hoping to find some solace in the darkness.

As he digs, the speaker is suddenly overcome by a sense of despair. He realizes that he will never find the peace he is seeking and that he is doomed to wander the forest forever. He cries out in anguish, and his cries are echoed by the "ghouls" and "demons" that haunt the forest.

The poem ends with the speaker collapsing in despair. He is consumed by his grief and is unable to find any solace. He is doomed to wander the forest forever, haunted by the memory of his lost love.

"Ulalume" is a haunting and eerie poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and the inevitability of death. Poe uses a variety of literary techniques to create a sense of unease and foreboding throughout the poem. One of the most effective techniques he uses is repetition. The repeated use of phrases such as "ghoul-haunted" and "region of sorrow" creates a sense of unease and dread that builds throughout the poem.

Poe also uses imagery to create a vivid and haunting atmosphere. The description of the forest as "ghoul-haunted" and the tomb as "ghastly" and "ghoulish" creates a sense of horror and dread. The use of the word "Weir" is also significant, as it is a reference to the ancient city that was destroyed by a flood. This adds to the sense of foreboding and doom that permeates the poem.

The use of symbolism is also significant in "Ulalume." The tomb represents the speaker's grief and his inability to find solace. The fact that he is drawn to it by some unknown force suggests that he is powerless to escape his grief. The use of the word "Ulalume" is also significant, as it represents the speaker's lost love. The fact that she is described as a "maiden" with "raven tresses" creates a sense of beauty and innocence that is contrasted with the horror and despair of the forest.

In conclusion, "Ulalume" is a haunting and eerie poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and the inevitability of death. Poe uses a variety of literary techniques to create a sense of unease and foreboding throughout the poem. The use of repetition, imagery, and symbolism all contribute to the haunting atmosphere of the poem. "Ulalume" is a masterpiece of Gothic literature that continues to captivate readers to this day.

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