Poe's Poetry Lesson Plan

As his last major work, published posthumously, what do you think "The Bells" reflects about Poe's perspectives on life and death towards the end of his life?

"The Bells" reflects some of the best examples of Poe's use of evocative and musical language, while also drawing on many different themes that are common in Poe's work (especially his later work). The organization and structure of the poem suggests phases of life--the fun and excitement of youth, the joy and happiness of marriage, the alarm and dismay of things going awry, and the inevitable and melancholy toll of impending death. The stanza about death's bells, significantly...