Review by Katie Lipoma
This week’s read was The Raven and Other Favorite Poems by Edgar Allan Poe (published by Dover Publications). This seemed like the perfect option as someone who’s wanted to read Poe’s The Raven for quite some time…and loves ravens and crows. I’m not feeling too rambly today, so let’s jump right in.
To begin, this is a diverse compilation of poems and sonnets from Poe’s collection that touch on a range of different topics, from nature’s beauty to love to discomfort and the harsh realities of life to other emotions that I’m still not entirely able to grasp. Many of his pieces are dedicated to things and people that seemingly left an impact on his life in one way or another (e.g., science, the river [haha], a slew of beloved poets, Zante, favorite nurses, his mother, and a mysterious Annie). I noticed that “dreams” is a common word used throughout and I was interested to see a poem dedicated to Israfel, an angel in the “Koran” (now commonly referred to as the Quran). I also find it interesting how these poems appear to be in no sensible order and that his infamous The Raven piece is positioned toward the collection’s end. Perhaps this serves as the grand finale following the journey through his lived experiences and relationships. Overall, there’s a dark and eerie feeling layered into Poe’s poems, and as soon as readers think things are going well with an uplifting piece, they’re proved wrong in the next when things go downhill.
I’m new to the complex world of Poe, and so I attempted to approach his work with an open mind. I struggled to stay present while reading as I found that the time and effort it took to decipher his Old English significantly removed me from each piece and made it difficult to deeply connect with it. I didn’t enjoy having to pause every few lines to do a deep analysis (hence why Shakespeare was not my favorite unit in high school). I also don’t particularly like how many of these poems rhyme, as I personally prefer non-rhyming experimental pieces.
I realize Poe was a writer in the 1800s, so this was all to be expected but I stand by my points. However, I’m sure my reading experience would have been vastly different if I had gotten to read this book when Poe was alive and Old English was the norm. Oh, I also noticed that he uses a lot of em dashes in his work. I find that funny, since people are now saying that em dashes are often a sign of A.I. use and manipulation.
There are some poems that I prefer and that jumped out to me over others. For instance (in no particular order), “Dreams,” “To the River,” “Evening Star,” “A Dream,” “The City in the Sea,” “The Sleeper,” “The Valley of Unrest,” “The Haunted Palace,” “Sonnet—Silence,” and “The Raven” (which is one of his more modern-sounding poems that unfolds like a story). I would also love to know more about Annie, Helen, the nurses, and the poets to whom he dedicates his work to. I suspect he had a unique relationship with each of them, whether romantic or platonic or something in between. Poetry is romantic in itself, and so his writing blurs the lines of distinction. Additionally, I appreciate each individual mood crafted by these poems, but I wonder why else I resonate with these. It’s not as if I can relate to most of his writing. Perhaps I can recognize and empathize with his humanness and thus am able to view his world through his eyes. Art really unites. This makes me think about why we call our favorite poems our favorites.
Toward the end of the collection, two poems really stuck out to me. The first is “The Bells” which instantly transported me back to a childhood Christmas with its jolly repetition and nostalgic mood. The second poem, “Alone,” really caught me off guard following “The Bells” as they’re completely different in message and mood. Again, it’s the pattern of hope and joy being ripped from readers’ grasps without warning. This memorable, solemn ending very much encapsulates the overall mood of his work and makes me interested in the life that he led. Did he lead a tragic life? Why was he in the hospital so long to be able to form relationships with staff? I wonder why some of our greatest writers struggle so much and spiral into madness (but that’s another topic for another time). Like so many (Poe included), I suppose writing is their outlet to cope with and process their experiences and emotions.
As much as I disliked having to piece together Poe’s poems, this proved to be an interesting and thought-provoking read. Maybe I’ll dig a little deeper into his personal life to gather some much-needed context for his writing.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for next week’s read and review!
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