An Enigma
By Edgar Allan Poe
"Seldom we find," says Solomon Don Dunce,
"Half an idea in the profoundest sonnet.
Through all the flimsy things we see at once
As easily as through a Naples bonnet —
Trash of all trash! — how can a lady don it?
Yet heavier far than your Petrarchan stuff —
Owl-downy nonsense that the faintest puff
Twirls into trunk-paper the while you con it."
And, veritably, Sol is right enough.
The general tuckermanities are arrant
Bubbles — ephemeral and so transparent —
But this is, now — you may depend upon it —
Stable, opaque, immortal — all by dint
Of the dear names that lie concealed within't.
Note:
"An Enigma," addressed to Mrs. Sarah Anna Lewig ("Stella"), was sent to that lady in a letter, in November 1847, and the following March appeared in Sartain's Union Magazine.
Poem Analysis:
Edgar Allan Poe’s An Enigma is both a playful riddle and a meta-commentary on the nature of poetry, particularly the sonnet form. Written for Sarah Anna Lewis, whom Poe admired for her literary work, the poem combines wit, satire, and intellectual cleverness. On the surface, it mocks the pretentiousness and superficiality of much contemporary poetry, while at a deeper level, it challenges the reader to discover a hidden "truth" — the concealed name of the poem's addressee — embedded in its structure.
Overview of the Poem
The poem begins with a quotation from an imaginary critic, "Solomon Don Dunce," who dismisses sonnets as shallow, calling them "trash of all trash." Poe humorously lampoons such dismissive attitudes toward poetry while ironically claiming that his own poem avoids these flaws because it is "stable, opaque, immortal." The final line hints that the poem’s enduring quality comes from the "dear names that lie concealed within’t," alluding to the acrostic technique Poe employed to encode the name of Sarah Anna Lewis.
This combination of riddle and literary criticism is typical of Poe’s inventive approach to verse. Rather than writing a straightforward compliment to Lewis, he creates a puzzle for her — and for us — to solve.
Themes
- The Nature of Poetic Value: Poe mocks conventional notions of poetic profundity, questioning what makes a poem valuable or enduring. By referencing "Petrarchan stuff" and "Owl-downy nonsense," he critiques overwrought sentimentality and vague language in sonnets. The poem’s self-referential tone suggests that true poetic merit lies not in empty ornamentation but in intellectual play, originality, and personal meaning.
- The Playfulness of Language: The poem itself is an intellectual game. The title, An Enigma, sets the tone: readers are invited to uncover the hidden message (the name "Sarah Anna Lewis") embedded within the text. Poe’s choice to write an acrostic — where certain letters of each line spell out a hidden word — demonstrates his fascination with the puzzle-like nature of language. This theme aligns with his interest in cryptography, riddles, and codes, seen in other works like “The Gold-Bug.”
- Critique of Poetic Convention: By mocking "Petrarchan stuff" and the "flimsy things" that pass for poetry, Poe indirectly criticizes poets who rely on clichés or shallow sentimentality. His mention of a "Naples bonnet" — a fashionable but flimsy item — underscores this critique, suggesting that much poetry is decorative but insubstantial. His humorous tone reveals both a deep understanding of poetic tradition and a willingness to subvert it.
Form and Structure
Poe’s poem takes the shape of a sonnet, but rather than a serious meditation on love or beauty (as was typical of the form), it functions as a witty critique of sonnet-writing itself. The structure follows 14 lines of rhymed verse, but the rhyme scheme and meter are playful rather than strictly conventional.
Most importantly, the poem’s acrostic structure conceals the name of Sarah Anna Lewis: the first letter of each line spells out Sarah Anna Lewis, making the poem a puzzle as much as a literary composition. This hidden element adds a layer of intimacy and personalization, transforming the poem into both a compliment and an intellectual gift to its recipient.
Language and Tone
The tone is one of playful mockery mixed with admiration. Poe’s use of humorous language — “trash of all trash,” “Owl-downy nonsense,” and “trunk-paper” — parodies verbose or sentimental poetry. At the same time, the affectionate reference to "dear names" at the close suggests that the poem’s true subject, Sarah Anna Lewis, gives it its lasting value.
Poe’s word choices carry a mixture of refinement and irreverence. The mention of "Naples bonnet," for instance, is both fashionable and trivial, symbolizing the kind of empty ornamentation he associates with lesser poetry. His use of the pseudo-authoritative "Solomon Don Dunce" as a critic figure further emphasizes his satirical intent.
Analysis of Key Lines
"Seldom we find," says Solomon Don Dunce, / "Half an idea in the profoundest sonnet."
Poe opens with a caricature of a critic who dismisses the intellectual content of sonnets. The name "Solomon Don Dunce" itself is ironic — combining "Solomon" (a symbol of wisdom) with "Dunce" (a fool), undermining the critic’s authority.
"Trash of all trash! — how can a lady don it?"
This line critiques the overly decorative and artificial nature of certain poetic forms, comparing them to flimsy fashion accessories.
"Yet heavier far than your Petrarchan stuff — / Owl-downy nonsense that the faintest puff / Twirls into trunk-paper the while you con it."
Here, Poe ridicules sentimental love poetry (referencing Petrarch, the Italian poet famous for his sonnets). He uses vivid imagery — comparing weak poetry to "owl-downy nonsense" — to suggest that such works collapse under scrutiny.
"Stable, opaque, immortal — all by dint / Of the dear names that lie concealed within't."
In this concluding line, Poe turns the critique inward, suggesting that what gives his poem enduring value is not its form or style but the personal connection embedded in its acrostic structure.
Poe’s Relationship with Sarah Anna Lewis
The dedication of the poem to Sarah Anna Lewis (whom Poe refers to as “Stella”) reflects his admiration for her as a fellow poet. By crafting a poem that both critiques conventional poetry and embeds her name as a secret message, Poe flatters her intellect while engaging in an artistic game. The poem’s layered nature — a riddle, a critique, and a personal tribute — demonstrates Poe’s ability to merge private sentiment with literary wit.
An Enigma is more than a playful puzzle; it is Poe’s witty commentary on poetic convention and the value of originality. While mocking the superficiality of certain poetic forms, Poe creates a poem of genuine ingenuity, where form and content are inseparably linked. The hidden name of Sarah Anna Lewis serves as both the poem’s solution and its reason for existence, giving personal significance to what might otherwise be read as mere satire.
In this way, An Enigma exemplifies Poe’s dual talent for intellectual complexity and emotional resonance. It challenges readers not just to appreciate the poem’s surface humor but to look deeper, uncovering the "dear names" and deeper truths that lie within.