1. Metaphor:
* "The glory that was Greece, and the grandeur that was Rome": This powerful metaphor compares Helen to the lost glories of ancient civilizations, elevating her to a symbol of beauty and timeless perfection. It suggests her beauty is not merely physical but also represents an ideal, a standard of excellence.
* "Thy beauty is to me / Like those Nicean barks of yore": This metaphor compares Helen's beauty to ancient ships, "Nicean barks," symbolizing a voyage of discovery and enchantment. This implies that her beauty leads the speaker on a journey of fascination and wonder.
2. Personification:
* "Thy beauty is to me / Like those Nicean barks of yore": The "Nicean barks" are personified, given human qualities like "sailing" and "seeking" to emphasize the way Helen captivates the speaker and draws him into her orbit.
3. Imagery:
* "The glory that was Greece, and the grandeur that was Rome": Vivid imagery of ancient civilizations evokes a sense of history, grandeur, and lost beauty, enhancing the symbolic weight of Helen's beauty.
* "Thy beauty is to me / Like those Nicean barks of yore, / That gently, o'er a perfumed sea, / The weary, way-worn wanderer bore": Poe uses evocative imagery of "perfumed sea" and "weary, way-worn wanderer" to create a sense of tranquility and escape, associating Helen with a haven of comfort and peace.
4. Symbolism:
* "Helen": While the poem is addressed to "Helen," it's likely not a real person. Instead, Helen acts as a symbol of beauty, idealized perfection, and a muse that inspires love and longing.
* "Greece" and "Rome": The ancient civilizations symbolize a lost golden age, highlighting the speaker's yearning for a time of beauty and greatness, which he finds embodied in Helen.
5. Alliteration:
* "Thy beauty is to me / Like those Nicean barks of yore": The repeated "b" sound emphasizes the emphasis on beauty and its effect on the speaker.
6. Repetition:
* "Thy beauty is to me...": The repeated phrase reinforces the idea of Helen's beauty being a constant source of inspiration and fascination for the speaker.
Poe's Intentions:
These literary devices work together to create a powerful and emotional effect. They elevate the poem beyond simple praise of a woman and delve into the speaker's yearning for the unattainable ideal, the beauty that transcends time and space. By associating Helen with ancient glories and timeless ideals, Poe suggests that her beauty is not just physical but embodies a spiritual and intellectual perfection, making her a symbol of the eternal allure of beauty and the enduring power of love.