Edgar Allan Poe

Introduction

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809. He died on October 7, 1849. He was born in Boston Massachusetts. Edgar Allan Poe was inspired by different types of literature and diverse writers. He writes about things that happen in his personal life too. Did you that know that Edgar Allan Poe loved cats. He wrote a couple of different poems or short stories based on cats. Another interesting fact is he was athletic. He was into swimming. He swam about 6 miles in a river. He also loved to hike in the woods.

A Dream Within a Dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow --
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand --
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep -- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

              -Edgar Allan Poe

 This poem is saying a lot. I think what Edgar Allan Poe is trying to say is that a lot of times we think of fantasies and things that are probably not going to happen and forget they are just dreams. All the things we think about and wish could happen are just dreams. I like this poem because it's about how everyone has dreams. Not even the most famous people on earth have everything. We all have dreams. To me this poem shows that. I relate to this poem because as I said before everyone has dreams. We all dream to have something we don't have. I think Edgar Allan Poe was not very happy when he wrote this. At the end there are many exclamation marks to emphasize that he is yelling He wanted his dream to come true. 

About The Poem

This poem uses some repetition. For example he says "O God" two times to emphasize that he is yelling. He also rhymes in this poem. It gives the poem rhythm and a beat. With out the rhyming it would not flow as easy as it does with the rhymes.  He uses some personification too. He says "Yet if hope has flown away." He is giving the impression that hope can fly. If this poem had none of these things it would not be as interesting. Also I would not have understood it as much. I would not have known the mood because the poetic techniques help show the mood.

                                                      

Closing

Edgar Allan Poe was a great poet. You should read a poem by him. I have put the link to a poem by him down below. When you are done reading the poem think about what it meant to you. What did you think the authors purpose for writing it was? Write your ideas in the comments!

Thanks!

http://poestories.com/read/totheriver