Analysis
The poem utilizes Poe's frequent theme of "the death of a beautiful woman", which he considered to be "the most poetical topic in the world." The use of this theme has often been suggested to be autobiographical by Poe critics and biographers, stemming from the repeated loss of women throughout Poe's life, including his mother Eliza Poe and his foster mother Frances Allan. If autobiographical, "Eulalie" may be referring to Poe's relationship with his wife Virginia. It seems to express that she lifted his spirits and washed away his feelings of loneliness. After Virginia's death in 1847, Poe scribbled on a manuscript copy of "Eulalie" a couplet, now known as "Deep in Earth." It is unclear if Poe intended this to be part of "Eulalie," an unfinished new poem, or just a personal note.
The name Eulalie emphasizes the letter "L," a frequent device in Poe's female characters such as "Annabel Lee," "Lenore," and "Ulalume."
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