The Repetitive Nature of Poe

The poem, "The Bells" is a lesser known, or should I say talked about, of poems by Mr. Poe.  None the less it paints a clear image that he had when it came to conveying the maniacal madness we know his works for. When I was a freshman in high school I read a few lines of this poem and the constant repetitive, "Bells, bells, bells... Bells... Bells, bells, bells, bells, bells," well, you get the picture. It drove me mad and after only a few lines I had to quit reading. Not having a full understanding of the poem and the intent he had in writing it I couldn't consider finishing it. I didn't realize that this effect was what he was trying to convey. The poem starts off pleasant enough with descriptive images of wedding bells and quickly turned dark and morose with adamant hatred for the nearby bells that plague the brain of the narrator. In many of Mr. Poe's works he uses repetitive lines to portray a diabolical madness; a stuttering of thought. Where the brain of the narrator freezes up with anxiety and is unable to follow through with the currant train of thought. 

In, "The Tell Tale Heart" "~ TRUE! — nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had been, and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses — not destroyed — not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Harken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story." Here there is the repetitive nature once again, but in a much more subtle melodic way. I also like the line of denial, "Harken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story." in the opening paragraph. One sentence he is telling of how "~ nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had been, and am," and then finishes with, "...how calmly I can tell you the whole story," all in one paragraph. At one point he is saying he is nervous, the next he is calm, and through it all he asks a question on behalf of you the reader, "...but why will you say that I am mad?" Even commenting on his disease that sharpened his senses.

I will leave you with this morsel to ponder today. The next blog will continue, "The Repetitive Nature of Poe;" with a look also into the, "Prosody of the Pendulum."  How he drives you down a heart pounding path of darkness using tempo. B)

Toklotox Forluna Tansikna Wun Yoleeblah Morlee & Morlee Itox Ithno Yoleeblah Inx Youloth Crunum Wonnay. With that said, "Sleep with one eye open and have a 'Horrific' day." B)