Edgar Allen Poe's The Bells

Edgar Allen Poe work on “The Bells” makes use of the following literary techniques: mood, rhythm, universal themes, and lastly the style of poem.
The Bells consist of four stanzas of varying lengths that follows no particular rhyme scheme (Poetry E., 2003). Each stanza consists of four different bells: sleigh, wedding, alarm and lastly funeral (Poetry E., 2003). Common occurrence of the ringing, Poe finds a metaphor for the progression of the common man from the carefree times of youth (as in the merry sound of the sleigh bells), to the serious commitment of marriage, to critical situations of emergencies in ones mature life, and finally to the conclusion of death (Poetry E., 2003). This natural progression, however, receives a dramatic emphasis because the descriptions become more and more emotionally charged (Poetry E., 2003). The stanzas are all miniature stories within and all seem to connect to one another. Poe’s construction of the stanzas vary in lengths, the first containing fourteen lines, the second twenty-one, the third line thirty-four and lastly forty-four lines in the final stanza (Poetry E., 2003). The style of the poem is four stanzas with its unique story that man experience. Poe begins the poem introducing each bell with a different mood and rhythm. In the opening lines Poe introduces the sleigh bell (Authors D., 2003). The use of different words in this line creates the onomatopoeia effect, which helps create the sound of the sleigh bells (Authors D., 2003). In the second stanza, the golden bells are introduced, golden symbolizing wealth and happiness (Authors D., 2003). Assonance with the vowel O in the words “float” “oh” “note” all create the moving sound and rhythm (Authors D., 2003). Stanza number three Poe introduces the third bell; the brazen alarm bells (Authors D., 2003). Poe creates imagery of the king of death that waits his ghoully ringing to be answered. Words including: throbbing, sobbing rolling, and tolling all have this rhyme scheme that creates a scary and creepy mood for the reader (Author D., 2003). The Bells have a parallel connection to one another with the repetition of words and the different literary elements, creating sound within the poem and bring the poem to life with the help of the onomatopoeias throughout …show more content…
The first universal theme is happiness. The sleigh bells creating childhood memories in one’s youth (Poetry E., 2003). The second universal theme joy is found in the second stanza. The golden bell is another metaphor symbolizing happiness, wealth, and commitment (Authors D., 2003). The third universal theme is fear, appears in the third stanza (Authors D., 2003). “What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells.” (Edgar Allen Poe). One can picture fear and sound expressed through an onomatopoeia effect with words, including: shriek, screams of the people (Authors D., 2003). Finally the last universal theme is death (Authors D., 2003). “One Human heart stone- they are neither man nor woman- they are neither brute nor human- they are ghouls (Edgar Allen Poe).” Poe is talking about death not being a person, but inhuman object this taunting us and waiting for us to answer his ringing. Poe’s metaphor of man experiences is well written. These are many of the universal themes found throughout the poem and in one’s