The setting is revealed to be a beach, this is known because in stanza 2 line 2 and 4 the speaker refers to surf-tormented shore and grains of golden sand. The speaker also gives the setting a depressing atmosphere because the speaker says this days have been a dream in stanza 1 line 5 and then continues the atmosphere with later saying at the end of stanza 1 dream within a dream.
symbolisum
The theme of this poem seems to be centered around the thought of loss and a feeling of inevitable fate. The speaker shows the reader a different perspective of life which creates a feeling of alienation from the speaker, and a feeling of slight dread as well as pity for the speaker. There is also an underlying theme of love but worry, for the speaker from the person that they are speaking to in stanza 1 line 1 and 2 kiss upon the brow and parting from you now.
imagery
Poe seems to be the speaker in this poem because the speaker is speaking in first person, meaning that Poe wrote the poem form his point of view. This poem is very thoughtful and must have been written from personal experiences, this poem is not something that was simply thought of. The poem is very pitiful and saddening, meaning that Poe couldn't of just thought this scenario into existence.
purpose
This poem symbolizes that Poe has been living his life through a dream and wasn't living in the moment for most or any of his life. Poe was always too occupied with his thoughts. The second stanza symbolizes that even if your not living your still getting older and that time still fly's, there is nothing that you can do about time, it will always go even if not with you.
There is not much imagery in the first stanza but you can see a hint of underlying love from the person whom is not Poe that is mentioned in the first stanza. The second stanza describes the setting of a beach and Poe talks about the sand from the beach in much detail. He details the surf tormented shores to show that the beach would be a great place to rest because nobody would want to go in such weather. This shows that he is alone with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company.
the purpose of the poem is the entertain but mostly to show a story of slight love, hopelessness and concern for those that you love, in the first stanza we see someone who cares for Poe very deeply because of the fact that he isn't always quite there. The hopelessness is shown in the second stanza because Poe feels the feeling of wanting something so badly, then finally getting but then watch it slip through your hands like nothing ever happened much to your avail.