"The Bells"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in Poe's poem, "The Bells," each stanza represents a phase of life, moving from the happy moments at birth and ending with the melancholy moments of death. The author points out that, in the first stanza of the poem, the bells the poet describes are silver bells that deliver a merry melody; in the second stanza, the mellow wedding bells ring in delight, foretelling a "world of happiness." The paper relates that, in the third stanza, the images become darker and less pleasant, sounding like a "tale of terror;" in the fourth stanza, the poet reveals that the bells, transformed from silver and gold to a rusty iron, are tolling.

From the Paper:

"This image is one of peace and calm. We can almost see the golden notes floating through the night air with the turtle-dove listening peacefully under the bright moon. The images of the bells swinging, ringing, rhyming, and chiming are positive and filled with energy. Because the poet makes a point of mentioning wedding bells, we can assume that this segment of the poem represents the next stage in life, which is marriage. Because the ringing bells swell and dwell "on the future" (29), we are left with a feeling of hope for the future."

More papers on "The Bells":

• Poem Review # 142261 : "For Whom The Bells Toll"
• Analytical Essay # 16215 : "The Bells"
• Analytical Essay # 55138 : "Edgar Allan Poe's "The Bells"

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