Steve+O.

Poem # 1 Alone Edgar Allen Poe

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.

In this poem Edgar explains why he felt so alone throughout his life. When he was young he knew that he was different from other kids. He did not see things the way that his they did, and he sought inspiration from other sources. Edgar had many great ideas but he had nobody to share them with, and he did not have anyone that shared his same interests and thoughts. Due to the fact that he was outcasted and looked on as eccentric as a child his view on life was drastically affected. Edgar’s childhood made it hard for him to see the good in life and focus more on the negative. However dwelling on his rough past has helped Edgar obtain that dark and melancholy attribute in his poems.

Poem # 2 Eldorado Edgar Allen Poe

Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado. But he grew old  This knight so bold And o'er his heart a shadow  Fell as he found  No spot of ground That looked like Eldorado. And, as his strength  Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow  "Shadow," said he, "Where can it be  This land of Eldorado?" "Over the Mountains Of the Moon,  Down the Valley of the Shadow,  Ride, boldly ride,"  The shade replied "If you seek for Eldorado.

This poem is about a strong and brave night who is in search of a lost city. He is a young healthy knight who is in his prime and is searching for fame and fortune and is willing to stay strong through the bad times and the good. After traveling a long way the knight realizes that his journey is not as easy as he believed it would be. The knight who is starting to age and is loosing hope consults the wise shadow. Shadow says that although life may not be as you desire you must live it the the fullest and ride boldly until you reach your destination.

Maybe an explanation of Eldorado itself? Is the shadow saying that Eldorado is a figment and that he'll never find it?

Poem # 3 Evening Star Edgar Allen Poe

'Twas noontide of summer, And mid-time of night; And stars, in their orbits, Shone pale, thro' the light Of the brighter, cold moon, 'Mid planets her slaves, Herself in the Heavens, Her beam on the waves. I gazed awhile On her cold smile; Too cold- too cold for me- There pass'd, as a shroud, A fleecy cloud, And I turned away to thee, Proud Evening Star, In thy glory afar, And dearer thy beam shall be; For joy to my heart Is the proud part Thou bearest in Heaven at night, And more I admire Thy distant fire, Than that colder, lowly light.

In this poem Edgar is contrasting the cold harsh moon to the bright, hot star. I think he is comparing the moon and the star to two women. One of them is cold hearted and ugly and she is all his, and the other is hot, fiery, and beautiful but is way far out of his league. Edgar is sad that is stuck with the moon, ( the cold hearted ugly girl) when he wants the evening star, (the beautiful, fiery girl) who he cannot get. Edgar come to a realization the the evening star is way out of his reach and he must settle for the moon. On the other hand he can always hope that some day he can reach out and grab the evening star.