Essay On Symbolism In Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven

Throughout the next six stanzas, the poem starts to build up tension again for the Raven does something that is sure to be unearthly. The Raven speaks. When asked for what it’s name may be, it answers with “Nevermore.” But after marveling at the speaking bird, the man mutters to himself on how just as his hope have

Another obvious symbol is the bust of Pallas, the Goddess of Wisdom. This use is symbolic as it leads the narrator to believe that the raven speaks

The poem tells of a narrator who is reading an old book in his parlor when he is interrupted by a knock at the door. The protagonist is in a period of grieving over the loss of his love, Lenore. At first, he wonders who the visitor might be and resolves to inform him or her that he is indisposed at the moment. The narrator finally opens the door only to find no one there. He returns to the chair (which Lenore will no longer occupy), only to hear the rapping again. He decides that the sound may be coming from the window, so he opens it. A raven enters through the window and lights upon a bust of a mythological figure that the narrator has in his room. The narrator questions the raven concerning its name, the bird answers “nevermore”. This startles the speaker, and he wonders aloud if the bird will leave him just as all of his friends seem to do. Again, he is answered by the raven “nevermore”. As the protagonist progressively

The narrator is as much saddened by the arrival of the raven, as he is disturbed. He says, "on the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before" (732). He is still recovering from the sadness of the loss of Lenore and in this raven he may find comfort for a while, but the raven will only be gone in the morning, just like everything else.

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.

A prophet is a proclaimer of God’s will, sees what is coming before those who he proclaims it to, representing sight, while the raven is dark and mysterious being a symbol of death (“The Raven” 286). Other uses of symbolism in the poem include Poe’s reference of the goddess Pallas and use of archaic words symbolizing the past and how the narrator is stuck in the past (Silverman 240). The narrator is trapped in a time where he believes he will be with Lenore again. The raven being perched on the bust of the goddess Pallas is also a symbol of the narrator’s belief that the raven is speaking a truthful and wise answer, for the Pallas is the goddess of wisdom, even though the raven cannot have thought provoked answers (Hallqvist).

Therefore , Symbolism is used in the poem to symbolize the raven. As the raven is tapping at the speaker’s chamber door and the raven has entered, it then holds power over the speaker. The raven's darkness may symbolize death; the line “Here I opened wide the door, Darkness there and nothing more.” the darkness brought from the raven is than just a constant reminder of death for his lost love,

The nineteenth century poet Edgar Allen Poe makes use of several literary devices in order to create a gloomy atmosphere in his poem “The Raven”. Alliteration, rhyme, onomatopoeia, assonance, and repetition are used to contribute to the melodic nature of the work and provide an almost “visual” representation of his gothic setting. Poe is a master of using these writing techniques. “The Raven” is one of his most popular works. This is certainly due, in part to his use of these literary devices in this piece.

Edgar Allan Poe uses a raven as a symbol for depression and a multitude of other emotions such as grief and loneliness. Ravens have different characteristics which support the idea of the raven as a symbol for multiple things. The characteristics of the raven in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven aid its symbolism for depression, grief and loneliness, even evil and death.

The Raven tells a story of a man with much grief over this loss of his love, Lenore. As the poem opens, the narrator is trying to find peace through his books. He states, “…while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,” (862). The setting, a chamber in a house, is described in such a way that creates a very dark, almost melancholy style. The narrator, while trying to find comfort for his loss, hears a tapping at his window. As he opens the window, a raven, a long time symbol of death, flies in, and refuses to leave. Poe uses the symbol of the raven, and his repeating word of “nevermore”, to show that the narrator will never get over the loss of his love, Lenore.

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 raven also forces the narrator to accept reality and move on. For example, the narrator questions the raven whether “within the distant Aidenn” will he ever “clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore” (129). He ponders the thought of ever seeing Lenore in his after life. He is beginning to realize that the raven came to him to bring him a sense of reality. With this knowledge, he is full of sorrow. He longs to see her in heaven, but realizes that in reality this will never really happen. Also, the narrator wonders if his “soul from out that shadow…shall be lifted” while the raven replies, ‘nevermore’” (130). The shadow of the raven signifies the death of his beloved, and he knows that he will never be able to escape this shadow. He will never again find happiness in his life. The reality that the raven brings helps him comprehend the fact that hiding from his troubles will not make them better. Therefore, it forces him to accept reality and move on.

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most well-known gothic writers around. He has written many form of writing from poems to short stories. One of his most famous narrative poems is “The Raven.” There are many reasons to read the “The Raven.” One reason to read the poem is because it is a classic. Secondly, reading “The Raven” can give sight to Poe’s thoughts and feelings towards his life. Thirdly, the poem is a good example of the mind set of someone who has faced a loss. Another reason would be that the poem can represent trochaic octameter form. It can also represent narrative poem form. Of these reasons, the most important one is that it is a poetic classic.

"The Raven" is one of the most famous compositions of Edgar Allan Poe published in 1845, and for me is certainly an exceptional poem. Each time I read it is impossible for me not to think about the meaning of the raven as the protagonist and the connection the image has with society for many years. In some cultures, the raven is a symbol of eternal life, whereas in other places, like in my country (Colombia), the raven is an image of myths and dead. Likewise, the choice of a raven as the protagonist of this poem is suitable for a number of reasons(as he himself explains) Indeed, not many animals are capable of carrying out human-like sounds and at the time it was wrote this black furred animal was conceived as a bad sign.

The dictionary states that a symbol is to be defined as “something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible” (Morris). Symbolism increases the meaning of the story, as well as captivates the reader’s attention to a deeper degree. It encourages the reader to think and attempt to find the hidden meaning within the narrative itself. As a poet Edgar Allen Poe occupied his narratives with literary elements. Symbols become one of the most predominant elements in his works of literature. Consequently, in his concise poem “The Raven,” the literary element most noted by the reader is symbolism. Characters, places, and objects all have a deeper meaning within this poem. In “The Raven” the most noted of the symbols are the bust, Lenore, the time, and the raven.