Epitaph

Epitaph - meaning Summary

Death and Sudden Violence

This very short poem presents a shocking, blunt report of Annabel Lee’s death by suicide. The speaker focuses on the violent act itself and then on how others describe it — the distancing phrase "they said" suggests gossip, uncertainty, or a refusal to accept responsibility. The tone mixes flat reportage and dark irony, leaving the reader to weigh literal horror against the social responses surrounding the death.