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.
Alone
Analysis, meaning and summary of Edgar Allan Poe's poem Alone
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Do you have any comments, criticism, paraphrasis or analysis of this poem that you feel would assist other visitors in understanding the meaning or the theme of this poem by Edgar Allan Poe better? If accepted, your analysis will be added to this page of American Poems. Together we can build a wealth of information, but it will take some discipline and determination.
This poem could not be about the death of Poe’s wife because she died after he wrote it nor is the poem about him being different. It is a general narrator meaning it could be anyone. The message that the poem is trying to get across is that when you realize you are different that seems to be all you can see(the demon) and you never seem to pay attention to the beautiful things.
The first 8 lines are wonderful–real, sincere, vivid. Then he tried to make it better and ruined it. The lesson is “less is more.”
This poem is revealing to Poe’s life. The man was such a powerful writer and his work continues to be an inspiration to me, but this poem in itself unlocked so much for me. It also show’s his own personaly feelings towards the lose of his parents. I have lost my family and i feel that there is no one left to listen to my tears fall from my eyes. To read this was almost better then anything i have ever read, it explained so much, thanks for reading this, Peace
alone . it describes how i feel … I have the feeling he wrote it for me .. But he didnt . he justs wrote how he saw his chilhood , his personal feeling for the life . alone . tha’ts how he feel , but in a sens everybody is alone . Isnt true ? even your are with a lot of people your are alone . alone with yourself . that’s the perception i have . like edgar , i am strange too and mysterious . i see myself in him . anyway , no more comments .
I believe that I truly understand the meaning of Poe’s “Alone”. I have to write an introduction to this poem and some of these comments have helped me put my thoughts into words,
I believe: certainly not written to ‘tell’ people how to feel, or to invite unecessary suggestions that most people feel the same. Poe is allowing us to see his unique emotion; it is not meant to represent universal human need, only his. Very special.
This poem is so touching. I had a speech project due and i was looking for a good poem and i found it. If u have not read this poem u should. It’s one of the best i have ever read!! – – Bri
this poem explains how i feel when i’m alone. i love to read edgers poems! they are imaginative and powerful!
The poem Alone describes the realization of personal truth. When Poe (the outcast)first comes to the conclusion that he is different from the rest. The poem expresses the depression and the fear that he felt about the possibility of being cursed to live his life without the “rose colored glasses” like so many others wear.
how is it about his wife?
it just seems like he is talking about how he doesn’t really belong and that he is like an outcast. i don’t see anything relating to his wife unless you think that cuz he said he was a child and was talking about being a child in annabell lee .. .. ..
this isn’t my favorite poe poem.
mine is ADream Within A Dream
Left out something. There is also assonance on line 8.
As only one other has attempted some sort of analysis, I will explain this…most of you seem to have missed the meaning by a bit. This doesn’t have anything to do with losing his wife. I also encourage you to read the other analysis (comment 2)
Lines 1-8: Describe how ever since his childhood he has been alone in the sense of his personality and passions. He also, like the other analysis said, didn’t feel regret for being alone. However, he, unlike the other children, still experienced sorrow and couldn’t be as joyful as his peers.
Lines 9-11: Transition to the next section.
Lines 13-22: He talks about WHY he is so different from the other children. It is a large section of anaphora and imagery ending with a metaphor of a demon-shaped cloud in a clear sky which corresponds to the demon in Poe’s way whereas the way is clear for everyone else.
hii…….wel..i luv this poem..let me just say that…i m doin a eng assignment..n i chose this poem..it just rocks..thats wut i think lol..nyways..when u read this poem u can srsly relate to it..or just feel it..or imagin wut he is tryin to say..he seems to be relli sad as others have said 2…ni think this is a relli kool way of showin ur emotionz..hope i get a gud mark on my siminar on the 19 dec…wish me luck ppl ! i knw u wont ..but lol
This poema reminds me of the time I asked my daddy for another pony. He would not give it to me and now I hate him for life. I am also very very sad.
Veruca
LOL jking. this is Emma of US
The mood of this poem is “sad and filled with despair.” In this poem, Edgar Allan Poe describes how he felt when his wife died. It means he felt like the saddest person on Earth when she died, and he did he died. of This poem is an example of imagery.This is what I think of this poem. I hope others understand too.
Yours,
Amelia
“cretzack lexzte raer grasia” means “i do not understand”. That is what i think. What does this poem mean? I dont know. My assignment for Gtradid, or English class, is to memorize and it and write the meaning of it. Dudes, I HATE this poem, and as Jessika from the United States said, I’m a poor sucker!! Haha, we are all suckers Jessika!!!!HAHHAA!!!! ;P
Go me!!
Cretzsa
Hi,
I read a part of this poem for the first time in the novel ‘Stone Butch Blues’ written by Leslie Feinberg. When i was reading it i found myself in it. It said all the things i wanted to say and it described all the things i felt and that i am still feeling.
I love this poem – it is my favourite!
Yours,
Butch S
I had to pick a peom for my englis class.I picked this one because it is a very deap and meaningfull poem. Edgar Allen Poe is an awsome poem writer.
This is my favorite Poe Poem!! It is so freakin awesome…it is so knarly!!!!!! Poe writes about wicked stuff……i think he would have been Emo if he was in our time
i read this poem and all i see is me in a world with people how judge others cause where not them.edgar knows what hes talking about and i wish i wrote poems that deep.