An exceptional poem can move the reader to a new consciousness. It becomes more than words strung together to rhyme and evokes real, palpable emotions. One of the most influential authors who contributed to this experience was Edgar Allan Poe. His work is almost immediately recognizable thanks to its common motif which is both melancholic and mysterious. Much of his writing is about love and loss, as in his poem “Annabel Lee.” The essence of this work is infinite love and the death of a beautiful girl. Many think that most of his literature mirrors his real life, full of heartbreak and pain. It is evident from the atmosphere and setting of his writings that he faced a lot of pain during his short life. In his poem “Annabel Lee,” Edgar Allan Poe masters the use of symbolism, imagery, and rhyme, which elicits a sense of kinship when read and brings the reader into his world. Edgar Allan Poe was considered the “father of Mystery” by many of his admirers (Kelleghan 520). He became one of the most controversial authors of his time. In Kennedy's book, “A Historical Guide to Edgar Allan Poe,” he states: “Despite persistent disagreement about Edgar Allan Poe's literary achievements, no American writer of the antebellum period enjoys greater popularity and recognizability today” (3). pain he encountered. His father abandoned the family when he was nine months old. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was two years old, leaving him and two other brothers orphaned .However, she formed a very strong bond with him... at the center of the paper... Works Cited Bloom, Harold Edgar Allan Poe, Pennsylvania: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Network. December 5, 2013.Kelleghan, Fiona. 100 Masters of Mystery and Detective Fiction. Pasadena, California: Salem Press, 2001. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Network. December 5, 2013. Kennedy, J. Gerald. A historical guide to Edgar Allan Poe. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Network. December 5, 2013.Poe, Edgar Allan. Annabel Lee. Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing. Ed. XJ Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 12th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. 993. Print."Sepulchre." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster and Web. December 5, 2013. "Seraph." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster and Web. December 5. 2013. .