Edgar Allen Poe Poetry Review

“Thy soul shall find itself alone.”

—Edgar Allen Poe

Who is Edgar Allen Poe, you may be asking? Well, Edgar Allen Poe is an American writer best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism and Gothic fiction. I will be focusing more on his poetry and recommending three that I find quite interesting from The Greatest Works Of Edgar Allen Poe: “Spirits of the Dead,” “A Dream within a Dream,” and “Alone.”

“Spirits Of the Dead”

This is one of my favorite poems by Poe. It speaks to the beauty of both life and death. It also explores the interactions between Gothic horror and romance. One of the lines that always strikes me is, “From thy spirit shall they pass.” This line has a way of speaking to me, and makes me believe that spirits can pass through us and that there is a place for each one. It makes me feel that there is so much more to these things that are a part of life.

“A Dream within a Dream”

This is my third favorite poem of Poe’s. The speaker of the poem watches as the things that are important to him are taken away and he struggles to hold on to them. He lacks control and begins to question if life is just “a dream within a dream.” The meaning of the poem has always had a place in my heart and I know people can relate to it. 

“Alone”

This is my second favorite poem since I can relate to the feelings it conveys. Its themes are feelings of isolation, of being different, and of being misunderstood. The poem shows that there is a way to cope with these feelings, and that is poetry. This is a poem that touches the heart.

There are so many poems you could read by Edgar Allen Poe. He has written such amazing work. So, if you are ever interested, look some up—there is so much more out there!