Question

Look up monody in a dictionary. In your own words, give at least two definitions of

the term. Then review the context of the word's use in "The Bells" and state which
meaning Poe most likely intended. Be sure to explain why this definition works in
context.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The definitions for monody are (paraphrased):

A song sung by one actor in a Greek tragedy
A poem mourning one's death

Poe's "The Bells" symbolizes the four stages of life through bell tolls. The four stages are: childhood, youth, maturity, and death.

The definition of "monody" most likely means a poem mourning one's death in Poe's "The Bells". The final stanza refers to the bells tolling as if someone was dying; "throbbing of the bells...sobbing of the bells...moaning and groaning of the bells", this sounds much like someone in their last minutes before death comes to claim them.