In today's society, the concept of beauty is often shaped by what we see on social media and in celebrity culture. However, for the famous American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), his idea of ideal beauty was heavily influenced by the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. In his renowned poem 'To Helen' (1845), Poe depicts a woman whose beauty transcends time, transporting him to the splendor and grandeur of classical beauty.
The title of the poem references the infamous Helen of Troy, a figure from Greek mythology whose beauty sparked the legendary Trojan War when she was taken by her lover, Paris. This event marked the beginning of one of the most epic sagas in ancient literature.
'To Helen' is a 15-line lyrical poem written by Edgar Allan Poe, a renowned American poet and short story writer. It was first published in 1831, with a revised version released in 1845. The latter edition is the one most commonly known and will be the focus of this article.
Poe wrote 'To Helen' in his early twenties as a tribute to Jane Stanard, the mother of a childhood friend who had been like a mother to him. Having lost his own mother at a young age, Jane Stanard was one of the few people who had encouraged his passion for writing. Unfortunately, she passed away from an unspecified mental illness when Poe was just fifteen, and this poem was written in her memory.
'To Helen' falls under the genre of lyric poetry, expressing intense emotions of love and admiration from a personal perspective. Lyric poems are typically brief and musical in nature, written in the first-person point of view.
Inspired by the works of English Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 'To Helen' also displays elements of Romantic poetry. Known for his dark and macabre themes, Poe's 'To Helen' exemplifies the romanticized ideals of intense emotions, the beauty of nature, and the importance of individuality.
Now, take a look at the complete version of 'To Helen' by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1845.
In the first stanza of the poem, Poe references Helen of Troy, comparing her beauty to gracefully sailing Greek ships that guide a wanderer home.
The second stanza describes the poet's longing for the woman's curly hair and traditionally beautiful features. He expresses how her nymph-like appearance transports him to a world of classical Greek and Roman beauty.
In the third stanza, the woman appears at a window, holding a lamp in her hand. Poe compares her to a classical art statue and calls her Psyche, a beautiful Greek goddess. He ponders that wherever she is from must be a sacred and significant place.
The central theme of 'To Helen' is the profound influence of beauty. Poe emphasizes that beauty holds such power that it can mentally transport a person to another world. Throughout the poem, he makes allusions to stunning Greek goddesses and mythical creatures, using them to describe the woman whom he loves. Poe also draws upon the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome, known for their grand and romantic visions of beauty. He suggests that the woman's beauty rivals that of the idealized goddesses depicted in classical art and statues.
Now, let's delve into an analysis of 'To Helen' by examining its form, rhyme scheme, and literary devices used by Poe.
Form and Rhyme Scheme
'To Helen' consists of three five-line stanzas, loosely following iambic tetrameter and an irregular rhyme scheme of ABABB CDCdC EFFEF (although each stanza has three rhyming lines and two alternating rhyming lines, the order of the rhymes changes in each stanza).
Iambic tetrameter is made up of eight syllables per line, following a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. Each line contains four stressed syllables.
Through 'To Helen,' Poe beautifully captures the timeless appeal and influence of beauty, inspired by the classical world of ancient Greece and Rome. His poem serves as a tribute to the everlasting fascination and impact of idealized beauty, as portrayed by Helen of Troy and other mythical figures in ancient mythology and art.
In his renowned work "To Helen," Edgar Allan Poe utilizes various literary devices to create a captivating and romanticized portrayal of a woman's beauty. Through the use of allusions and ecphonesis, Poe expertly crafts a poem that transports the reader into a fantastical world of Greek mythology.
One of the most prominent literary devices used in "To Helen" is allusion, which refers to the referencing of a person, place, thing, or event to add depth and understanding to a text. The poem starts with an allusion to Helen of Troy, the famed beauty of Greek mythology who was the catalyst for the Trojan War. Poe uses this allusion to showcase the universal and powerful beauty of the woman he loves and to draw the reader into the enchanting realm of Greek mythology.
Continuing with the use of allusions, Poe compares the woman's beauty to "those Nicéan barks of yore," a reference to the ancient Greek city of Nicaea. This comparison evokes a sense of tradition and history, with the woman's beauty metaphorically resembling a ship that carries the speaker to romanticized moments of the past.
Personification is also employed by Poe as he describes the sea as "perfumed," conveying a sensation of sweetness and nostalgia, representing the speaker's love for the woman. Additionally, the alliteration of the "W" sound in "weary, way-worn wanderer" emphasizes the exhaustion of the traveler who is ultimately rescued by the woman, symbolized by the ship. This "weary" and "wanderer" also allude to Odysseus from The Battle of Troy, further emphasizing the woman's role as a powerful and guiding force for the speaker.
The third stanza of the poem is filled with ecphonesis, adding an emphatic and climactic element to the work that is reminiscent of ancient Greek and Latin poetry. The use of exclamatory phrases reflects the growing emotions of the speaker as he sees the woman standing in a distant window, compared to a sailor finally seeing his love waiting for him on the shore.
Poe's adept use of allusions to Greek mythology continues in his vivid descriptions of the woman's beauty. Her "hyacinth hair" is a reference to both the tightly curled flowers and the Greek hero who was the lover of Apollo. This allusion speaks to the woman's beauty, both in her physical appearance and her god-like qualities.
The comparison of the woman's beauty to a "classic face" refers to the timeless and idealized standards of beauty depicted in ancient Greek and Roman art. This suggests that the woman possesses a beauty that is both perfect and universal, similar to that often portrayed in classical art.
The description of "Naiad airs" further alludes to the woman's irresistible and enigmatic beauty, often associated with water nymphs in Greek mythology. These references add depth and richness to the poem, creating a mesmerizing portrayal of a woman who is both timeless and powerful.
In summary, "To Helen" is a masterful poem by Edgar Allan Poe that utilizes allusions and ecphonesis to create a captivating and romanticized image of a woman's beauty. By drawing on elements of Greek mythology, Poe paints a vivid picture of a woman who is both timeless and powerful, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.
Edgar Allan Poe's poem 'To Helen' is a masterpiece that captures the essence of beauty through vivid allusions, literary devices, and imagery. In the final stanza, the speaker compares the woman he admires to the Greek goddess Psyche, known for her unparalleled beauty and forbidden love for Cupid. This allusion highlights the speaker's fascination and admiration for the woman's divine radiance, elevating her to a timeless and idealized figure.
The role of Cupid, the son of the goddess of love Venus, in the poem also emphasizes the theme of beauty. In the myth, Venus plots to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous creature out of jealousy for her beauty. However, Cupid himself falls deeply in love with Psyche, emphasizing the powerful and alluring nature of beauty and love.
Through the use of allusions to Greek mythology and classical art, Poe adds a grandeur and romanticized quality to the woman's beauty. The repeated use of alliteration, such as "faces fair" and "graceful gold", creates a musical cadence and adds to the overall effect of admiration and enchantment. Similes, such as the comparison of the woman's beauty to a ship carrying the speaker home, further emphasize the captivating and transportive nature of her appearance.
Poe's vivid imagery, such as "the curve of her forehead" and "golden hair", paints a captivating picture of the woman's beauty in the reader's mind. The use of ecphonesis or exclamation, with phrases like "Oh, rare!" and "Oh, beautiful!", intensifies the speaker's emotional response to her beauty and adds to the poem's dramatic effect. The rhyme used throughout also creates a melodic flow, complementing the theme of beauty and admiration.
The meaning of 'To Helen' lies in the idea that beauty has the power to mentally transport us to another world. The allusions to Greek mythology and classical art convey the belief that this woman's beauty is otherworldly and almost mystical. By metaphorically comparing her beauty to a ship, the speaker suggests that she takes him to a place of comfort and joy with her enchanting appearance. This is reminiscent of the famous line about Helen of Troy, "The face that launched a thousand ships", as her beauty was believed to be the cause of the Trojan War.
The use of the word "classic" to describe the woman's features further emphasizes the idea that her beauty is timeless and perfect, like a work of art. Interestingly, in the original version of the poem, the word "fair" is used instead. Poe's decision to revise this in the 1845 version to "classic" may suggest a stronger emphasis on the transcendent and radiant nature of the woman's beauty.
The inspiration behind 'To Helen' was Jane Stanard, the mother of Poe's childhood friend who encouraged his writing. Jane, who became a motherly figure to Poe after his own mother's death, is believed to have been the muse for the poem's depiction of Helen's beauty. This adds a personal touch to the poem and further highlights the powerful influence of beauty.
In conclusion, 'To Helen' is a mesmerizing tribute to the enchanting and transportive nature of beauty. Poe's use of allusions, literary devices, and vivid imagery creates a timeless and captivating celebration of divine radiance. Through this poem, Poe immortalizes the power of beauty and its ability to transport us to places beyond our physical realm.
