Ghosts, Eidolons, Spirits, and Ghouls in Nineteenth Century American Poetry

EIDOLONS

 

OED Defnition: 

 

An unsubstantial image, spectre, or phantom.

 

Analysis of Representations in Nineteenth Century American Poetry: 

 

There are few examples of 19th century eidolons in poetry. The two poems here listed present differing images of eidolons. In Walt Whitman's "Eidólons," they appear similar to spirits. Eidolons are essences of the living. Whitman describes the ways in which the living create their eidolons. Every action and thought builds the essence of themselves that will live on in the afterlife. This all culminates in the eidolon of earth. In contrast, the eidolon in "Dream-Land" is an individual. The eidolon named Night is not an essence of a living being, but a ruler of the underworld. The eidolon night is a sort of divine undead figure. From these contrasting images of eidolons, it is difficult to form a universal characterization in the 19th century. Eidolons appear to merely stand in as some malleable undead form for the poet to construct on his/her own.

 

List of Poems in which Eidolons Appear:

 

"Eidólons" by Walt Whitman

"Dream-Land" by Edgar Allan Poe