“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

Here’s a little biography of the man behind “The Raven”
Edgar Allan Poe

Dark Romanticism, American Romanticism, Gothicism
Subgenre made famous by Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville. Emphasize: human fallibility, human tendency to sin and self destruction, and nameless guilt. Anthropomorphized evil in the form of Satan, devils, ghosts, werewolves, vampires, ghouls, and animals. Supernatural explanations for metaphysical phenomena. Dark Romanticism, American Romanticism, Gothicism

Poetic Devices to Watch Out For in “The Raven”:
Speaker: Do not confuse the speaker with the poet. Those terms are not mutually exclusive. Refrain: Repeated line. Notice the pattern in the final line of each stanza. Trochaic Octometer with variation: Trochaic- stressed, unstressed. Octometer- 8 sets of trochees. Poetic Devices to Watch Out For in “The Raven”:

Alliteration, rhyme, repetition and meter come together to catch the reader up in the wild, frantic feeling of the poem: “Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster/ Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore” Feel the poem

Before we break it down by stanza, let’s get an overall feeling of the poem with this dramatic reading. Colors speaker is doing/thinking Internal rhyme End rhyme Mood/tone Figurative language/sound devices Color Coding

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.” What is the speaker doing and what is his state of mind? Stanza 1

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.” Stanza 1 The speaker is thinking, reading, and napping in a weak and weary state when he is interrupted by a tap.

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.” What kind of rhyme do we find in stanza 1? Stanza 1

Stanza 1 Internal and End Rhyme: What is the effect?
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.” Internal and End Rhyme: What is the effect? Stanza 1

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December; And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore— For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Nameless here for evermore. Based on word choice, what atmosphere is created in this stanza? Stanza 2

Stanza 2 Depressing? Ominous? Foreboding? Frightful?
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December; And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore— For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Nameless here for evermore. Depressing? Ominous? Foreboding? Frightful? Stanza 2

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December; And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore— For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Nameless here for evermore. Internal and End Rhyme continues and so does the repetition. What is the effect? Stanza 2

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December; And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore— For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Nameless here for evermore. Stanza 2 The speaker is going insane. Can you feel it? What is causing his sorrow?

Stanza 2 Lenore: a lost love
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December; And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore— For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Nameless here for evermore. Stanza 2 Lenore: a lost love

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door— Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;— This it is and nothing more." Stanza 3 What makes us think that the visitor will not be routine or positive?

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door— Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;— This it is and nothing more." Stanza 3 He’s trying to convince himself.

Stanza 4 Reminiscent of a horror movie.
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, "Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you"—here I opened wide the door;— Darkness there and nothing more. Stanza 4 Reminiscent of a horror movie.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?" This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"— Merely this and nothing more. What is his emotional state? What do you think he is dreaming about? Stanza 5

Stanza 5 Where is this creepy whispering coming from?
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?" This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"— Merely this and nothing more. Where is this creepy whispering coming from? Stanza 5

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?" This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"— Merely this and nothing more. Stanza 5 The speaker!

Stanza 6 Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore— Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;— 'Tis the wind and nothing more!" Stanza 6 This poem is more than a man in a room. It is a man inside his own mind. What is going on mentally?

Stanza 6 Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore— Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;— 'Tis the wind and nothing more!" Stanza 6 The speaker is in dire mental straits. He is grasping for rational explanations while his burning soul perceives a threat.

Stanza 7 Describe the Raven.
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door— Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door— Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Stanza 7 Describe the Raven.

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door— Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door— Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Stately- regal Days of yore- glorious past Obeisance- Makes no greeting Mein of lord or lady- aristocratic Then, just sits… Stanza 7

Stanza 7 Possible significance of this perch?
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door— Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door— Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Stanza 7 Possible significance of this perch?

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door— Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door— Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Stanza 7 Pallas= Athena= Goddess of Wisdom. Is the Raven wise or maybe pretending?

Stanza 8 Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore— Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." Stanza 8 What is the speakers sudden change in reaction to the Raven? What does he want to know?

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore— Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." Stanza 8 He is suddenly amused (insane?) He wants to know the Raven’s name.

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore— Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." Allusion Alert: Refers to the way a knight would have his head shaved to humiliate him as punishment. Pluto- Greek god of the underworld Stanza 8

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door— Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as "Nevermore." Stanza 9 What is the speaker’s reaction to the Raven saying, “Nevermore”?

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door— Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as "Nevermore." Stanza 9 He is shocked, but not satisfied with the answer. Makes a creepy joke about no one ever meeting a talking bird named Nevermore.

Stanza 10 But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered— Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before— On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before." Then the bird said "Nevermore." Stanza 10 What transformation does the Raven make in the speaker’s mind?

Stanza 10 But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered— Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before— On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before." Then the bird said "Nevermore." Stanza 10 The Raven’s whole soul is Nevermore. The bird is like other friends who have left this speaker hopeless.

Stanza 11 Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore— Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore Of 'Never—nevermore.'" How does the speaker rationalize the Raven’s “apt response” of “Nevermore” (which was a response to “other friends have flown”)? Stanza 11

Stanza 11 Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore— Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore Of 'Never—nevermore.'" The speaker thinks the Raven learned only one rote response from a previous master who was depressed. Stanza 11

Stanza 12 But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore— What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore." Stanza 12 What has the speaker decide to do?

Stanza 12 But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore— What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore." Stanza 12 The speaker is going to obsessively study the Raven.

Stanza 13 This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! Stanza 13 Where does the speaker’s mind turn? Why is his furniture taunting him?

Stanza 13 This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! Stanza 13 He begins to think of Lenore again and how she will nevermore sit on those velvet seats.

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee Respite—respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore; Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." Now things are getting really weird. What does the speaker sense? Stanza 14

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee Respite—respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore; Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." He senses perfume from an incense globe (censer) and hears the angels swinging the globe. Stanza 14

Stanza 14 Allusion Alert:
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee Respite—respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore; Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." Allusion Alert: After he calls himself a wretch he thinks God has sent the perfume like “nepenthe”, a mythological drink supposed to comfort mourners. Stanza 14

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted— On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore— Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." The speaker has gone into a full on rage, yelling at the Raven and wondering if he is from the devil or just blown in from a storm. As always, the Raven just says, “Nevermore” Stanza 15

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted— On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore— Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." Allusion Alert: Gilead is a Biblical reference. The speaker is asking if he will ever have hope/comfort. Stanza 15

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil—prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore— Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore." Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." What is the speaker asking this time? Note: “Aidenn” is an allusion to Eden or Heaven. Stanza 16

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil—prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore— Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore— Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore." Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." He asks if he will ever see Lenore again. Insanity or self-injury: asking this bird, knowing the answer will be “nevermore”. Stanza 16

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend
"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting— "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." The speaker finally loses it completely. Paraphrase what he tells the Raven. Stanza 17

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend
"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting— "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." The speaker tells the Raven to get out and go to where the sun doesn’t shine. Stanza 17

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—nevermore! Stanza 18 Tense change! This is still happening!

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—nevermore! Stanza 18 What has happened to the speaker?

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—nevermore! Stanza 18 The speaker’s soul is imprisoned in the personal hell that he has found in the shadow of the Raven.

Lenore: Is not a round character. She is a symbol for perfect womanhood. (We never know the speaker’s exact relationship) The Raven: Is a symbol of pure evil and torture. Night’s Plutonian Shore: The darkness near a shore to the underworld is symbolic for the dangerous mystery at the edge of our personal hell/grief. Symbols

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“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

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“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

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