The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe Pages 312 – 317

Setting Describe the setting of the room. –a chamber, midnight, dark, dreary (think The Simpsons) Describe the speaker. –a person who has lost his love –A melancholy person trying to forget a tragedy

Plot What does the narrator expect to find when he opens the door? –a visitor, the deceased woman with whom he has been in love What does he find instead? –“Darkness there and nothing more.” What is his first reaction to the raven? –amused, glad to have company

Plot When the raven first says “Nevermore” what is the speaker’s guess as to why? –it is the bird’s name What is his next guess as to why the raven is saying “Nevermore”? –it is the only word that his master has taught him to say ( to torture the speaker)

Plot Near the end of the poem what two questions does the speaker ask the Raven to which it responds “Nevermore”? –Will he get over his suffering? “Respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore” “Is there balm in Gilead?” –Will he see Lenore again? “Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,/ It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”

Literary Elements The theme of The Raven is best described as the pain of loss of love. (causes a person to become bitter) The speaker’s tone toward the raven undergoes what transition? –from amusement to annoyance to rage

Inference We can infer from the ending of the poem that –the speaker will never escape his despair

Onomatopoeia Which word in the following passage is an example of onomatopoeia? –“While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,/As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door-” tapping

Alliteration Once upon a midnight dreary, I pondered and Over many a and volume of forgotten lore— While I suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door— `Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door— Only this, and nothing more. `Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door— Only this, and nothing more.while weakweary, quaintcurious nodded,nearlynapping,

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? End rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? End rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? End rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? End rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? End rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? End rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? End rhyme – abcbbb Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? Internal rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? Internal rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? Internal rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Rhyme Scheme What rhyme scheme did Poe use in The Raven? Internal rhyme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'

Symbols are well known, at least in a particular culture, and that their meaning is agreed upon. Writers and artists often create their own unique symbols.

Guidelines for recognizing symbols: A symbol is a concrete object, a person, a place, or an action that works on at least 2 levels: It functions as itself and suggests a wider meaning. Symbols are often visual. The symbol is identified with something that is very different from it, yet the 2 things share a similar quality. The writer gives the symbol a great deal of emphasis. The symbol usually relates to the story’s theme.

Symbols What does the raven symbolize? –obsessive mourning “And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor/ Shall be lifted – nevermore!”

Discussion Questions Add the following questions to your notes Copy the questions, then begin answering them

Questions 1.When the speaker first thinks that Lenore may be at the door, what are his feelings? (Hopeful) 2.In “The Raven” what is cause of the speaker’s sadness and what is the effect? (Cause-lose Effect-heartbreak) 3. In the line, “perched upon a bust of Pallas”, what may the Pallas represent?” (Wisdom)