-
Many and many a year ago...
The speaker uses phrases like "many and many a year ago in a kingdom by the sea" (1-2) at the beginning of the poem to create a fairytale-like tone. The speaker continues this when he repeats the word "love" when saying, "she lived with no other thought than to love and be loved by me" (5-6). This picture represents the beginning of the story not only because it is a castle by the sea, but it also looks like it was taken out of a fairytale with its tall towers, flowers, and bright colors. -
A great love, BUT
In the second stanza, the speaker continues talking about their love and how great it was. But the last two lines shift to a foreboding tone with the "winged seraphs covet" (11-12). This image shows two cherubs wishing for something. While this image may seem too innocent, the colors are correct. Most of this stanza is cheery, but the end is dark. The painting has bright elements, but it is definitely darker than the first picture on this timeline, mirroring the darkening of the poem. -
Death and Sepulchre
In the third stanza, the speaker talks about how Annabel Lee was killed by the seraphs sending a chilling wind. After she died, "her kinsmen came and bore her away from me, to shut her up in a sepulchre" (17-19). This picture represents both the chilling wind (the black and white setting is cold and depressing) and the fact that the speaker was prevented from seeing her. This sepulchre seems impenetrable, mirroring how the speaker was not allowed to be with her at this point. -
Blame Game
During the 4th stanza, the speaker continues to insist that it was the angels' fault: they were jealous. He uses darker words like "envying" and "chilling and killing." This image shows a winged angel "come out of the cloud by night" (25). This image is clearly scary and matches the speaker's feelings toward the angels that took his love. -
Still together!!
In the 5th stanza, the speaker comes back from the dark, saying that despite everyone telling him that he cannot be with Annabel Lee, nothing "can ever dissever my soul" (31). At first glance, it seems hopeful and like everything will be okay. This image shows the two together, but there is still an unease in the picture like in the poem. The reader knows Annabel Lee is dead, so how are they still together? The picture captures this with its creepy yellow background and faded outlines. -
Sees her everywhere... at night
At the beginning of stanza 6, the speaker reveals how he still is connected to Annabel Lee: he sees her in the moon, the stars, and the night-tide. This isn't quite the hopeful response the reader was expecting, but it isn't too strange, for many poets have said this before (ie "Cross of Snow"). This picture shows the sadness that the speaker experiences, but shows that he still is connected to her. In the poem, the rhythm is also hypnotizing, and this picture looks as if the man is hypnotized. -
Sleeping on her grave
And then the last four lines happen. The speaker says that he lies at Annabel Lee's grave. This description is super creepy and dark. This picture shows a man standing next to a woman's body by the sea. The colors are dark, and the viewer can barely see the outline of the human bodies. It is an unsettling picture: just as unsettling as the last four lines.
