Poem AnalysisAt first glance, I interpreted this poem differently from how I do now. I was aware that Edgar Allen Poe was a morbid type of poet, but this poem didn't come across as a dark poem, but now it does. During this poem he dreamed of sorrowful things like a breakup or losing someone he really cares for. He awakes to notice that is wasn't just a bad dream, it's reality. His loved one has departed from him, causing him great pain. Poe shares,"That holy dream—that holy dream, While all the world were chiding, Hath cheered me as a lovely beam". He refers to the dream as "holy" because everything is surreal and possible. It's a holy dream because his dreams are an escape from his awful reality and environment. He says," On things around him with a ray, Turned back upon the past?" He's regretful and just wants to change his history to prevent this heart break. When he is sleep, the world is in the palm of his hands, everything is easy. He calls the sun the "Truth's day star" because it wakes him out of his beautiful wonderland to face actuality of his loneliness and sorrow.
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Literary Devices AnalysisThis poem has a deep meaning and is hard to decipher. In my difficulty of translating the poem I've found alliteration and symbolism. In the line "While all the world were chiding" it repeated the beginning consonant of the letter w. In the last line, it talks about a Truth's day star which symbolizes the sun.
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A Dream
A Dream
BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
In visions of the dark night
I have dreamed of joy departed--
But a waking dream of life and light
Hath left me broken-hearted.
Ah! what is not a dream by day
To him whose eyes are cast
On things around him with a ray
Turned back upon the past?
That holy dream—that holy dream,
While all the world were chiding,
Hath cheered me as a lovely beam
A lonely spirit guiding.
What though that light, thro' storm and night,
So trembled from afar--
What could there be more purely bright
In Truth's day-star?