The bells are once again described as “moaning and groaning” at the poem’s conclusion. They call themselves “Ghouls,” and their ruler “tolls” and “rolls, rolls, rolls” a triumphant melody from the bells. The speaker talks of “those” in the bell tower who enjoy rolling a stone over a person’s heart. Anyone who hears them may tell that they are groaning out in fear and despair. The sound of the bells now fills the listeners with deep terror. These opening lines have the somber sound of the “Iron bells.” Although they are less turbulent than before, the type of fear, tragedy, or loss has not improved. To the moaning and the groaning of the bells.Ī total of forty-four lines make up the final stanza of “The Bells,” making it the longest. What a world of solemn thought their monody compels! He tells how the bells clatter and clang out of tune to signal an emergency to others around. He conveys anxiety by using the terms clanging, clashing, and screaming. They are predicting the future in some way. These phrases keep expressing hope for the future. In the clamor and the clangor of the bells! In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire,īy the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells.

In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire, What tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells! The bells are emitting “delight” and “molten-golden sounds.” They are lovely and produce a “liquid ditty,” or song, that even “the turtle-dove” enjoys.

Still inspiring, the visuals refer to “harmony” and the “balmy air of night” and speak of peace. Instead of being silver, they are “golden,” which may allude to the passage of time and the intrinsic changes that accompany aging. The speaker moves closer to talking about “wedding bells” in the opening sequence of stanza two. To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells! What a gush of euphony voluminously wells! To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats What a world of happiness their harmony foretells! The poem is off to a warm and joyful start. He represents the bells in this poem with the words “tinkling” and “jingling.” The reader gains a cheerful and jovial spirit when he utilizes these words. He mentions Christmas bells and jingle bells in the opening stanza. He describes many bells, the sounds they make, and the occasions for which they are used in each stanza. To the tintinabulation that so musically wellsįrom the jingling and the tinkling of the bells. What a world of merriment their melody foretells! He is largely considered as a key representative of American Romanticism and American literature.

Poe is best renowned for his short stories and poems, especially his macabre and mystery-themed works. A writer, poet, editor, and literary critic, Edgar Allan Poe was an American.

The bells by edgar allan poe summary