Final answer:
In 'Annabel Lee,' individuals face death by clinging to the memory of loved ones, as portrayed through the poem's enduring love that defies even death itself.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the poem Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe, people face death by holding on to the memory of their loved ones and finding solace in their memories. This is best illustrated through choice C: They hold on to the memory of their loved ones and find solace in their memories.
Poe's narrator in the poem clings to the love he shared with Annabel Lee and insists that their souls are inseparable even in death. Cultural and personal attitudes toward death vary greatly, but many find comfort in remembrance and emotional connection to those who have passed on. As seen in the poem, the lasting love transcends the physical separation that death imposes, allowing the bereaved to maintain a spiritual and emotional bond.
It's important to recognize that attitudes towards death, like those represented in Poe's work, are subject to the influences of cultural contexts and personal experiences. Kübler-Ross's model of the five stages of grief suggests a progression through emotional states that eventually leads to acceptance, but individual experiences can diverge from this pattern.
In literature, characters often reflect an author's personal life and cultural milieu, as seen in the deep emotional connection to mortality in Dickinson's poetry and possibly in Poe's own life experiences. Ultimately, individuals cope with death in various ways, but many do indeed seek comfort in memories and a spiritual connection that resists the finality of death.
While analyzing a writer's life may sometimes yield insights into their work, focusing on the sentiments and themes within the literature itself often serves as a more direct avenue for understanding how people face death and loss, as demonstrated by the enduring impact of a poem like Annabel Lee.