Lenore, Edgar Allan Poe: Summary, Analysis & Themes

"Lenore" was first titled "A Pæan" when it appeared in an 1831 collection of Poe’s poems. The original version was substantially different from the final version, lacking the name "Lenore" and containing only 11 quatrains. In 1843, when it was revised and published under its current title in The Pioneer, Poe introduced the name Lenore, and the poem evolved into a more refined reflection on death, love, and mourning. Both versions are often considered separate poems due to their distinct differences.

"Lenore" Poem Text by Edgar Allan Poe

How shall the burial rite be read?
The solemn song be sung?
The requiem for the loveliest dead,
That ever died so young?
Her friends are gazing on her,
And on her gaudy bier,
And weep!—oh! to dishonor
Dead beauty with a tear!
They loved her for her wealth—
And they hated her for her pride—
But she grew in feeble health,
And they love her—that she died.
They tell me (while they speak
Of her “costly broider’d pall”)
That my voice is growing weak—
That I should not sing at all—
Or that my tone should be
Tun’d to such solemn song
So mournfully—so mournfully,
That the dead may feel no wrong.
But she is gone above,
With young Hope at her side,
And I am drunk with love
Of the dead, who is my bride.—
Of the dead—dead who lies
All perfum’d there,
With the death upon her eyes,
And the life upon her hair.
Thus on the coffin loud and long
I strike—the murmur sent
Through the grey chambers to my song,
Shall be the accompaniment.
Thou died’st in thy life’s June—
But thou did’st not die too fair:
Thou did’st not die too soon,
Nor with too calm an air.
From more than fiends on earth,
Thy life and love are riven,
To join the untainted mirth
Of more than thrones in heaven—
Therefore, to thee this night
I will no requiem raise,
But waft thee on thy flight,
With a Pæan of old days.

Quick Facts

Title:	Lenore
Original Title:	A Pæan
Author:	Edgar Allan Poe
First Published:	1831 (as A Pæan), 1843 (as Lenore)
Form:	Quatrain Stanzas
Themes:	Mourning, Death, Love, Loss
Notable Features:	Elegiac Tone, Symbolism, Shift in Tone from Mourning to Celebration

Summary of "Lenore"

"Lenore" is a poem that explores the themes of death and mourning, but with an unusual perspective. The speaker questions how to mourn the young and beautiful Lenore, who has died. While others lament her passing and reflect on her material wealth and pride, the speaker rejects their sorrow. He feels that weeping for Lenore’s death dishonors her, as her soul has ascended to a higher plane. Instead of a somber requiem, the speaker offers a triumphant "Pæan" to celebrate her departure to heaven. His love for Lenore transcends her death, and he sees her journey as one of peace and unity with the divine.

Critical Analysis of "Lenore"

"Lenore" presents a complex meditation on death, using a dramatic contrast between the mourners' somber tone and the speaker's celebration of Lenore's soul rising above earthly concerns. Poe challenges conventional mourning rituals by suggesting that Lenore’s death is not a tragedy but a release into a better realm. The speaker’s refusal to raise a traditional requiem for Lenore highlights his belief that her death should be honored with joy rather than sorrow.

The use of the name Lenore is significant in Poe’s body of work, as it would later reappear in his famous poem The Raven. Lenore represents an idealized figure, a symbol of purity and beauty, whose death is both mourned and revered. In this poem, Poe emphasizes the contrast between the physical body and the spiritual essence, showing how Lenore's beauty and vitality persist even in death. The poem oscillates between despair and a fervent desire to celebrate Lenore's heavenly ascension.

Key Themes in "Lenore"

• Mourning and Death: The poem examines traditional mourning practices and challenges the idea of lamenting death, suggesting that the dead, especially those as virtuous as Lenore, should be celebrated rather than wept over.
• Love Transcending Death: The speaker’s love for Lenore goes beyond her physical death, and he continues to honor her as if she were alive. His devotion becomes a powerful theme in Poe’s poetic exploration of love and loss.
• Rejection of Earthly Sorrow: The poem rejects the materialistic and shallow mourning of Lenore’s acquaintances, instead choosing to celebrate her transition to the divine realm.

Stylistic Analysis of "Lenore"

• Quatrain Stanzas: The poem is structured in quatrains, creating a rhythmic and measured reflection on the nature of death and mourning.
• Elegiac Tone: Despite the speaker’s rejection of sorrow, the poem carries an elegiac tone as it meditates on Lenore’s death and what it means for those left behind.
• Symbolism: Lenore’s physical beauty, "the life upon her hair" and "the death upon her eyes," symbolizes the tension between life and death. Her ascent into heaven symbolizes purity and transcendence.
• Shift in Tone: The poem transitions from a somber reflection on Lenore’s death to a more celebratory tone as the speaker resolves to honor her with a joyous "Pæan" rather than a sorrowful requiem.

Photo by Hardeep Singh