Final answer:
Poe's 'The Philosophy of Composition' provides insights that aid in understanding the tone and mood in 'The Bells'. Quotes from Poe's essay reveal how the poem uses word choice and literary devices to excite the soul, emphasize the poem's beauty, and maintain a unified impression throughout.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Edgar Allan Poe's The Philosophy of Composition, he delves into the analysis of effective literary creation. The insights provided translate well into understanding how literary devices and word choice influence the tone and mood in 'The Bells'. Let's explore three quotes in relation to 'The Bells':
- A. 'A poem deserves its title only inasmuch as it excites, by elevating the soul.' The titular 'Bells' inherently sets up a sense of rhythmic sound and music, which preps the reader for a poem that will stimulate the senses and perhaps elevate the soul with its cadence and resonance.
- B. 'Beauty, not the quality of sentiment, is the soul of the poem.' In 'The Bells', Poe uses the musical quality of the bells to evoke the beauty of joy, alarm, and mourning — each contributing to the soulful aesthetic of the poem beyond just the sentiments they may convey.
- C. 'Unity of impression is absolutely necessary.' 'The Bells' achieves a unity of impression through its repetitive and evolving sounds, which mirror the progressive stages of life. The poem maintains a consistent structure that guides the reader's emotional experience throughout.
By examining these quotes alongside Poe's poem 'The Bells', it becomes evident how word choice, sound, and repetition build a particular experience and emotional response in the realm of literary works.