To Helen
In "To Helen", Poe depicts a weary traveler called home by the majestic image of the beautiful Helen. Through idealistic imagery and diction, he develops the romantic image of feminine beauty. The lofty rhyme scheme throughout the poem similarly enhances the speaker's admiration of Helen. In response to Poe's picturesque description, H.D. reveals her title character in "Helen" as a brutal reminder of the hardships of war. Her usage of imagery and diction create a cold, undercutting tone, which, along with the flat rhyme of the poem, echo Helen's association with death and destruction. In equating Helen with the dark images of war, H.D. mocks Poe's idealistic image of feminine beauty. The speaker of "To Helen" feels weary from the hardships he faces at sea. During his travels, however, the image of Helen motivates him until he may return home. In relating his semblance of her, the speaker describes a majestic, admirable woman. The imagery Poe employs contributes to his romanticized perception of beauty. Upon seeing Helen, the speaker note, "How statue-like I see thee stand." This image evokes thoughts of a woman placed high on a pedestal, revealing the
Just as Helen returns the weary sea wanderer home, Poe associates these words in his rhyme. As both poems utilize differing tones, so, too, do they develop differing sound patterns to support their overall message. 's speaker exposes the dark side of Helen, Poe's whimsically pours his heart out to this image of beauty. In rhyming the words "roam" and "home" with "Greece and "Rome", Poe combines contrasting ideas to reflect the power of Helen's influence. Similarly, the lines, "Could love indeed the maid only if she were laid," act in the same manner. bitterly responds with her own contrasting views. 's rhyme proves flat and unmoving, mirroring the speaker's deadpan response to Helen. Similarly, the "agate lamp within thy hand," presents an image of light and empowerment. She views Helen as a dark reminder, rather than a classic inspiration, and so she uses powerfully negative words to develop her direct, insipid tone. Her speaker describes Helen's eyes as having, "the luster as of olives. As Poe develops a classic, romantic vision of a woman who's beauty returns sailors home from the sea, H. " The choice words of "glory" and "grandeur" reflect the feelings he holds towards Helen, as he feels both inspired and humbled by her.
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