Final answer:
In Poe's 'Annabel Lee,' the setting creates a melancholic and haunting atmosphere, heavily influencing the narrative and the narrator's actions, motivated by love and grief for Annabel Lee.
Step-by-step explanation:
How does the setting contribute to the characters' actions in Annabel Lee? The setting in Poe's Annabel Lee has a major impact on the narrative, imbuing it with a sense of mood that influences the characters' actions. In this poem, the setting creates a melancholic and romantic backdrop, reflective of the narrator's deep love and mourning for Annabel Lee. This is evident through the descriptions of the kingdom by the sea, which appears haunting and in a way, timeless. The continuous reference to this setting highlights how the character's actions are driven by the memories and emotions tied to this place. Additionally, the setting can affect the character's mindset and motivations, as seen when the narrator suggests that the envious angels caused Annabel Lee's death due to their jealousy of the couple's love. The winds from the sea and the isolated, sepulchral location reflect on the actions driven by the grief that the narrator feels — his lying down by the side of his beloved in her tomb. Hence, the atmosphere and mood set by the location are integral to understanding the depth of the character's emotions and subsequent actions.