A Valentine by Edgar Allen Poe

Why Should this Poem be Studied in Schools?

Analysis

What is the Significance of the title?

The significance of the title is that it shows affection. It reveals that the poem contains love.

What is the tone of the poem?

The tone of the poem is light, romantic, and a little taunting. The tone is light and romantic in that Edgar is describing Frances. The tone is also taunting by the way that Poe gives the reader clues in order to discover the name of his "valentine."

This poem should be studied in schools because it shows many different types of devices used in poetry. It uses simile, hyperbole, metaphor, and personification. It also makes the reader look into the poem with both an analytical view in order to see the writer's love for this women, and the literal view in order to solve the riddle: who is the women the writer is talking about.

How does Connotation Shape Meaning?

Connotation shapes meaning by the way that it helps the reader understand Edgar's love for Frances. The way he describes her "Luminous eyes" and describes her name as a hidden "treasure" that lies within the lines of the poem. It shows how Edgar truly had feelings for Frances. Another way connotation shapes meaning in this poem is that throughout the entire poem, Poe never writes down his valentine's name. He only give the reader clues to find her name that is hiddin in the poem. This lets the reader understand that his affection for her was meant to be a secret.

How Does Metaphor/Simile shape meaning?

Metaphor and simile shape meaning by the way that they reveal just how much Poe cared for Frances. The way he describes her name as a treasure and amulet "that must be worn at heart" show how she is very important to him.

A Valentine

Have you ever been someone's secret admirer?

Work Cited Page

• http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-valentine/
• http://www.fofweb.com/Lit/default.asp

Edgar Allen Poe

• Born on January 19, 1809 in Boston Massachusetts
• Raised by his godfather John Allan, after becoming an orphan at the early age of two
• On May 16, 1836, he married Virginia Clemmon
• Began to write stories in Baltimore, after being expelled from West Point

Edgar Allen Poe's "A Valentine"

A Valentine: Back Story

A Valentine

What is the meaning of this poem?

• Later became editor of the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond
• Here he published The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym

For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes, Brightly expressive as the twins of Lœda,Shall find her own sweet name, that, nestling lies Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader.Search narrowly the lines! -- they hold a treasure Divine -- a talisman -- an amulet That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure --The words -- the syllables! Do not forget The trivialest point, or you may lose your labor! And yet there is in this no Gordian knot Which one might not undo without a sabre, If one could merely comprehend the plot.

Edgar Allen Poe wrote "A Valentine" on February 13, 1846. Poe wrote this for Frances Sargent Osgood as a Valentines Day present. On February 21st of that same year, it was published in the New York Mirror titled "To Her Whose Nam e Is Written Below."

I chose this poem because it makes the reader analyze the text in order to answer the riddle, and because it also shows how it uses metaphors and symbols in order to describe the abstract things such as feelings and emotions.

Another reason I chose this poem is that it is very straight forward in that, not much inference is needed in order to understand the poem.

Enwritten upon the leaf where now are peeringEyes scintillating soul, there lie perdusThree eloquent words oft uttered in the hearing

The meaning of this poem is that Edgar Allen Poe is telling Frances Osgood of his feelings for her. He is expressing how she is important to him, and how he holds her close to his heart like a "talisman." He also goes on throughout the poem and makes her name a secret, that is hidden within the poem. He does this to show that Frances, like a secret, is held near and dear to him, with the utmost importance and affection.

Of poets, by poets -- as the name is a poet’s, too.Its letters, although naturally lyingLike the knight Pinto -- Mendez Ferdinando --Still form a synonym for Truth. -- Cease trying!You will not read the riddle, though you do the best you can do.

• He then moved to Philadelphia, then New York, where he published most of his stories

Annette Chavez

• His wife died of tuberculosis in 1847Died on October 7, 1849 in Baltimore, Maryland