Romance, Edgar Allan Poe: Summary, Analysis & Themes

"Romance" first appeared as "Preface" in Poe's 1829 collection Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems, and was later retitled "Introduction" in his 1831 volume Poems by Edgar A. Poe. The final version appeared in 1843, under the title "Romance", in the Philadelphia Saturday Museum. The poem reflects Poe’s lifelong relationship with the romanticized ideal of love, infused with darker undertones. Notably, it is considered somewhat autobiographical, as the speaker mentions an inability to love without the presence of death—possibly alluding to the illness and loss experienced in Poe's personal life, such as the death of his wife, Virginia, and other women he loved.

"Romance" Poem Text by Edgar Allan Poe

Romance, who loves to nod and sing,
With drowsy head and folded wing,
Among the green leaves as they shake
Far down within some shadowy lake,
To me a painted paroquet
Hath been—a most familiar bird—
Taught me my alphabet to say—
To lisp my very earliest word
While in the wild wood I did lie,
A child—with a most knowing eye.
Of late, eternal Condor years
So shake the very Heaven on high
With tumult as they thunder by,
I have no time for idle cares
Through gazing on the unquiet sky.
And when an hour with calmer wings
Its down upon my spirit flings—
That little time with lyre and rhyme
To while away—forbidden things!
My heart would feel to be a crime
Unless it trembled with the strings.

Quick Facts

Title:	Romance
Author:	Edgar Allan Poe
First Published:	1829
Final Version Published:	February 25, 1843
Original Titles:	"Preface" (1829), "Introduction" (1831)
Form:	Rhymed Poem
Themes:	Romantic Idealism, Death, Creative Inspiration
Notable Features:	Autobiographical Elements, Bird Imagery, Melancholy Tone

Summary of "Romance"

"Romance" opens by personifying Romance as a bird, singing softly among the trees. For the speaker, this figure of Romance has been present since his earliest childhood, teaching him language and inspiring his first words. However, as the speaker has grown older, the tumult of life, symbolized by the thundering passage of "Condor years," has left little room for idle contemplation or simple joys. Still, in rare moments of calm, the speaker turns to his poetry ("lyre and rhyme") to escape into forbidden thoughts, feeling as though creating art is a necessary but almost guilty act. The final lines suggest that the speaker’s heart can only find peace when it resonates in harmony with his artistic expression.

Critical Analysis of "Romance"

"Romance" captures the tension between youthful idealism and the harsh realities of adulthood. The poem begins with a nostalgic tone, as the speaker fondly recalls Romance as a guiding figure from his childhood. The exotic "painted paroquet" serves as a symbol of this romanticized ideal, both colorful and instructive, offering the speaker his earliest understanding of the world. However, as the speaker grows older, this innocent joy is overshadowed by the burdens of life, represented by the “Condor years” that pass tumultuously.

The poem’s tone darkens as the speaker reflects on the limited time he has for leisurely pursuits. Yet, in moments of calm, he finds solace in poetry, though this escape feels almost transgressive (“forbidden things”). The final couplet emphasizes the importance of artistic expression to the speaker’s emotional wellbeing, as his heart "trembles with the strings" of his lyre. This image suggests that poetry, while offering respite, is also entwined with a deep sense of melancholy and guilt, perhaps linked to the personal losses Poe experienced.

Key Themes in "Romance"

• Romantic Idealism: The speaker nostalgically recalls the purity of Romance as a child, when life seemed simpler and more beautiful.
• Death and Loss: The line “I could not love except where Death / Was mingling his with Beauty’s breath” hints at the dark shadow of death that often accompanied Poe’s romantic attachments.
• Creative Inspiration: The speaker finds solace in artistic creation, despite feeling that engaging with these “forbidden things” might be seen as an indulgence or even a crime.
• The Burden of Time: As the speaker ages, time becomes a burden, represented by the "Condor years" shaking heaven itself, which leaves him little space for reflection or artistic pursuit.

Stylistic Analysis of "Romance"

• Personification of Romance: Romance is portrayed as a bird that sings and teaches the speaker language, making it a symbol of both beauty and creative inspiration.
• Imagery of Birds: The poem contrasts two birds: the youthful “painted paroquet” symbolizes innocent joy and knowledge, while the "eternal Condor" represents the passage of time and the burdens of adult life.
• Rhyme and Meter: The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme, adding musicality to the lines and emphasizing key themes such as time, love, and artistic creation.
• Melancholic Tone: Despite its nostalgic beginning, the poem adopts a melancholic tone as the speaker reflects on the inevitable encroachment of time and death on his youthful ideals.

Photo by Elina Sazonova