The Core of Grief:
* "But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we—" This line emphasizes the speaker's profound love for Annabel Lee, making her loss even more devastating.
* "For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;" The speaker's dreams are haunted by Annabel Lee, showcasing the constant presence of her memory and the ongoing pain of her absence.
* "And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea
In her tomb by the sounding sea." This stanza is deeply moving. The speaker is physically near Annabel Lee's grave, emphasizing his unending love and desire for her.
Other Lines of Significant Loss:
* "And the angels, not half so happy in Heaven,
Went envying her and me—" The angels envy the speaker's love, further emphasizing the unique and special nature of their connection, which makes the loss even more painful.
* "The wind blew out a chilling blast,
And the chill blast that blew out the light
That lit up our love with its rare, ghostly light,
And the chill blast that blew out the light
That lit up our love with its rare, ghostly light,
And the chill blast that blew out the light
That lit up our love with its rare, ghostly light." The repetition of the line about the "chill blast" and its extinguishing effect emphasizes the sudden, tragic nature of Annabel Lee's death.
The Speaker's Obsession:
* "In the sepulchre there by the sea
In her tomb by the sounding sea." The speaker's constant presence at Annabel Lee's tomb, even mentioning the "sounding sea," suggests his overwhelming obsession with his lost love.
In Conclusion:
While the entire poem is an expression of the speaker's deep loss, the lines highlighted above best illustrate the intensity and persistence of his grief. He is haunted by Annabel Lee, and the pain of her absence permeates every aspect of his life.