women in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven," "Annabel Lee," and "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Poe's tragic personal past with women in his life, notably the loss of both his wife and mother to tragic illness (Benton), is clearly reflected within all three of Poe's masterful works. In "The Raven" Poe faces the truth that the shadow on his heart over the death of the "rare and radiant" Lenore will never be lifted. Further, in "Annabel Lee," Poe once again mourns the tragic death of a beautiful woman whom he loved dearly. In "The Fall of the House of Usher" Poe again explores the loss of a young, beautiful woman who dies tragically before her time. However, this story explores Poe's horror and terror at the circumstance of the young woman's death, rather than a simple exploration of his grief, as seen in "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee."...
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