Analysis Of The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe

On October 3, 1849, Poe was found unconscious, but the doctors weren’t able to find out what really happened. On October 7, 1849, Poe died in the hospital. Poe’s one of the famous works is “The Raven”, which was dedicated to the school children’s memory in the nineteenth century, first got published in New York Evening Mirror in January, 1845.This poem had an enormous success and got published in many other publications in America and Europe. Many critics connect Poe’s tragic life with his poem’s synopsis (“Explanation”, par.1). The poem is about a man who dreams about his lost love, Lenore, and how the talking bird, who only knows one word “Nevermore”, usually visits him.

Through the use of an un-named narrator in his poem entitled “The Raven”, Poe darkly conveys feeling understood by many: hopelessness, lost love, and death. The poem follows the un-named narrator, as he reflects on, as well as struggles with, the realization of his lost love, Lenore. Like many, he tries to detract his overwhelming feelings for Lenore by investing his time in studying books. Despite his greatest efforts, he is unsuccessful. Much to his surprise, his solitude is interrupted by an unanticipated visitor. Throughout the poem, Poe uses imagery, tone, symbolism, and rhyme as a means of conveying his overall themes of undying devotion and lingering grief.

The raven also symbolizes the torture the narrator has inflicted upon himself due to the death of Lenore, a "rare and radiant maiden?nameless here forever more" (731). The raven's refusal to answer any question asked of him with an answer other than "nevermore" only tortures the narrator even more.

“Nevermore,” the infamous word that directly connects you to a well-known poem by Edgar Allan Poe. “The Raven” is a literary work that has gone down in ages as being a timeless classic that transcends your senses as you dive into this sinister tale. Poe had a life of hardships but still was able to prevail in life becoming a great writer writing many poems and stories that are mysterious and prevalent today. “The Raven” has many displaced factors that make it seem as though Poe is truly referencing his life throughout the work. The poem takes you through many different feelings as you dwell on the meanings that the text could have. “The Raven” was written in 1845 close to the time his wife Virginia Clemm was being treated for tuberculosis. This infamous poem seems to be closely related to his current life and the feelings that he was having towards his wife.

The poem, “The Raven,” written by Edgar Allen Poe shows the deep depression and confusion that the narrator is experiencing since the death of his beloved wife. The gloomy setting of the poem predicts the visit of the Raven, whom is a sign of misfortune, darkness, and death. Throughout the poem, the narrator is continually mourning his wife, Lenore. He secretly hopes that the Raven will bring good news regarding his wife and his future; however, the Raven informs him that he will forever remain depressed. Furthermore, Poe uses setting, strong word choice, and symbolism to illustrate the Raven as the messenger of darkness and explain the narrator’s emotional state.

It is about how a man should be happy that a beautiful young woman is dying. He should exalt the fact that the woman is going to a better place, also known as Paradise or "Aidenn" in this poem. Thus, the echoing of "Lenore" first hints to the reader that this "Lenore" represents Poe's suffering wife, but in this poem, she is characterized as the speaker's already dead wife. The reader knows that the speaker's wife is already dead since later in the poem the speaker says he wants the raven to leave him in "unbroken loneliness." That is, Poe is trying to imagine getting news of the death of his wife through the speaker in his poem so that when his wife does die, he will not be terribly traumatized. Later, the speaker hears more rapping at his door. This time when he opens it, he finds a raven so noble and majestic that it would even dare to perch on Pallas Athena's, the Goddess of Wisdom and War's, bust, or breast. The first question he asks the raven is what its name is since he believes it to be from the "Night's Plutonian shore," which means a messenger of Ares, the God of the Underworld and dead. God Ares. The raven simply replies "Nevermore" and answers every question with this word. The raven's name as "Nevermore" also furthers the statement that it is a symbolization of death. At first the speaker makes himself believe that when the raven says "nevermore," he is muttering the fact that

The poem I selected is “The Raven” written by popular American writer, Edgar Allan Poe. I chose this poem because of previous memories of reading several of Edgar Allan Poe’s writings. I remember in 8th grade when my teacher introduced the whole class to a short story called “The Tell Tale Heart”. I loved the poem a lot, I liked how gory, detailed, and interesting it was. It went perfectly for the time of year it was, which was October. Soon after we were done reading the poem, the whole grade went on a class trip, to see live performances of several of Poe’s short stories and poems being performed by actors. It was fun and the actors were very talented and they captured every emotion perfectly. Overall, it was a very good experience.

To him, the raven is a messenger from the devil, and so it also lives in the underworld. Pluto is the Roman god of the underworld, and Pluto’s shore would, naturally, be the underworld. Combined with the word “night”, a complete picture of of death and nothingness is drawn. The narrator wishes to see Lenore again in the afterlife, but the raven mocks him by saying “Nevermore”, telling him that he shall never see her again, in his life or the afterlife. The poem shows the absolute grief, despair, and devastation that Poe, or the narrator, feels over the death of their loved ones.

Edger Allen Poe was an inspiring poet that was known for creating many American feel with mystery, horror, and dark writing. One of his top pieces of writing would be known as a man vs. self-situation called “The Raven.” The Raven have gained many positive reviews, throughout my research that some called it to be the most perfect poet to ever be established from American writing. Throughout this research paper it will give key concepts on why did Edgar wrote this story, how does it reflect on my perspective, how the critical receivers respond to the, how did this became favorite for all readers as a whole, and how does horror stories have an impact on those who is not used to reading. By the end of this paper it would be in full detail on how did Edger Allen Poe so famous and how through his works influence this type of genre for many enthusiastic authors.

The raven impresses the man with its blend of comedy and being serious. The only answer the Raven gives back is "Nevermore". Finally, he asks the raven whether he will be reunited with Lenore in Heaven. The repetitive response "Nevermore" makes the man very angry. He starts to call the bird a liar, and demands the bird to return to the "Plutonian shore". The narrator undergoes an intense conflict between the want to forget and the want to remember. He seems to get some pleasure from focusing on loss. The narrator makes the assumption that the word "Nevermore" is the raven's "only stock and store", but continues to ask questions even though he already has the knowledge to know what the answer will be. The narrator then does this so he can make himself feel bad for himself. Poe never leaves a concrete answer to

The man then asks the Raven for his name. Surprisingly the Raven answers, and croaks “Nevermore.” The man knows that the bird cannot speak from wisdom. He assumes that the bird was taught by “some unhappy master.” The man is so lonely that he decides to welcome the raven in, although, he is sad that the friend he just made will be gone in the morning (1174). He says out loud, “Other friends have flown before- On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.” Then the bird replies, “Nevermore.” Surprised the man smiled and pulled up a chair, interested in knowing what the raven meant when he croaked, “Nevermore.” The chair he sat in brought back painful memories of his love, Lenore and how she used to sit in that chair. Knowing that the raven’s speech is irrational he still asks the raven questions. Since the narrator already knows that the raven can only speak one word, he assumes the bird’s responses. The man asks, “Is there balm in Gilead?" The bird replies, "Nevermore." Can Lenore be found in paradise? - "Nevermore." The man becomes angered and yells, “Take thy form from off my door!" Of course the bird replies, "Nevermore."(1175) Lastly the man surrenders, realizing that continuing the conversation with the raven would be pointless. And his "soul from out that shadow" that the raven throws on the floor, "Shall be lifted -- Nevermore!" (1175)

The first two stanzas of The Raven introduce you to the narrator, and his beloved maiden Lenore.  You find him sitting on a “dreary” and dark evening with a book opened in front of him, though he is dozing more than reading.  Suddenly, he hears knocking on his door, but only believes it to be a visitor nothing more.  He remembers another night, like this one, where he had sought the solace of his library to forget his sorrows of his long lost beloved, and to wait for dawn.  Meanwhile the tapping on his door continues.

Example: “Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary (1); rare and radiant maiden (11); And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (notice the deft use of consonance as well) (13); Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, / Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before (19-20)”.

I liked reading this poem as it caught my attention. However, I did notice myself becoming confused on some verses. I liked how Poe gave the reader room to use their own imagination within the story. Each reader is responsible for interpreting Poe’s words since he does not directly state his thoughts. I thought that the unnamed character in the story was sad because of losing Lenore as the story states “From my books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the loss Lenore.” The raven tapping at his chamber door is Lenore coming back to see him but in the form of a Raven. The unknown character thinks the raven is an evil demon and will leave like Lenore did. However, the raven did not as the text says “And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting,

“The Raven” centers on the narrator’s thoughts as he hears a knocking at his door. "T 'is some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door. // Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door:” (16-17) One of the most prominent of these thoughts, mentioned several times during the poem, is the idea of “Lenore”. “Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!” (82) We never find out who “Lenore” was in relation to the narrator or any of her background. Rather we are merely told that she is important to the narrator. Her character is not elaborated on nor is it given any background. She is merely an “idea”, not a person. This is in stark contrast to “Mariana” where the narrator is clearly calling out to a person and not an idea. Even though a name is not mentioned, lines such as “He will not come,’ she said; She wept, ‘I am aweary, aweary,