Ulalume is the tale of the narrator and his soul, Psyche. On a lonely, gloomy October night, near Auber Lake and Weir Forest, the narrator wanders through the woods. His heart is volcanic, full of heat, and restless as the lava currents, which roll down Mount Yaanek. He talks seriously to himself, but he does not pay attention to the date or to the location, although both are highly significant to him. Finally, as the dawn approaches, he thinks about a bright star that apparently points out a path, but his terrified soul warns him to mistrust the star. He ignores his psyche and decides to follow the hope and beauty of the star. The theme of death is probably quite clear from the story told in the poem; after all, the narrator discovers that he has walked to the grave of his beloved and then realizes that he buried her on this same night the year before. In addition to these obvious references to death, however, the poem has many other more subtle nods to this theme. For example, it takes place on an October night, and October is a month that is associated with nature's transition into winter or the shift from life to death. Further, Poe uses various words in 'Ulalume' that bring to mind death and decay, such as 'senescent,' 'gloom,' 'tomb,' and so on. Unsurprisingly, alongside the theme of death, we find the theme of grief or the feelings of loss and deep sadness that accompany the death of a loved one. You can listen online to free English audiobook “Ulalume: A Ballad” by Edgar Allan Poe on our website.
