the raven by edgar allan poe.
by brianna law.
summary of "the raven."
in the poem, a man is alone in his room pondering. oddly, he hears a tapping at his door. he was going to answer it, assuming it was a visitor. however, as he got up, he started remembering his departed love, Lenore. eventually, he opens the door only to find darkness. despite nobody being at the door the tapping continues, so he goes over to window just in time for a beautiful, dark raven to fly in. the man asks what the raven's name is, and unexpectedly the raven replies with, "nevermore." the raven repeats this cold, mysterious word with every question or remark that leaves the man's mouth. the man eventually asks the raven if Lenore is in heaven, and once again the raven replies with "nevermore." filled with anger, the man tells the bird to leave no matter what. despite this, the raven stays put. after a few moments, the man realizes the raven will never leave because it represents his memory of Lenore, which will also never leave.
theme analysis of "the raven."
the theme of "the raven." is undying devotion and love and insanity. the man will always unconditionally love Lenore despite her passing, and constantly thinks about her. soon, the man finds himself talking to a bird, specifically a raven and asking questions about Lenore. the only response the man ever receives is "nevermore."
character development in "the raven." ; the narrator.
in the beginning of the poem, the man is weak and depressed from the recent passing of his wife Lenore. one night he hears a knocking on his door, and goes to open it but stops to think about Lenore. eventually opening the door, nobody is there. by this time, the character is lost and panicking. going over to the window, a raven flies in. soon, the man starts asking the raven odd questions that stem from his irrational thinking. all the raven ever replies with is "nevermore." this drives the man to complete madness, realizing that the bird and the distressing memory of Lenore will never leave him.
character development in "the raven." ; the raven.
in the beginning of "the raven." the bird is mysterious and dark and doesnt say a word. eventually, the narrator asks the raven a question, the raven replies with "nevermore." and continues to relay this response every time a word is spoken to him. soon we find out that the raven will never leave the narrator's life.
significant quote from "the raven."
“deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals 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” Poe, Edgar. The Raven. Print.
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals 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” Poe, Edgar. The Raven. Print.
author biography.
edgar allan poe was born on january 19th, 1809 in boston, massachusetts. poe never really knew his parents, because his father left when he was at an early age and his mother passed away when he was three. poe was separated from his siblings, and went to live with a successful and rich tobacco merchant and his wife in richmond, virginia. poe and the his foster mother formed a bond, but he did not get too close to his foster father. for a short time, poe was in the military but was kicked out for his lack of performing duties in the ideal amount of time. in 1835, poe returned to richmond and went to work for a magazine company. however, he was too combative to continue to work for them so he was kicked out of the company as well. during this time, poe turned to alcohol. in 1847, his wife, virginia, mysteriously died. oddly, virginia was not the only important person to pass in poe's life. many of the women poe got close too seemed to pass away. despite his depressin from these events, he continued to work, but he struggled emotionally, financially, and his health was declining. poe left richmond on september 27th, 1849 and was supposed to be on his way to philadelphia. however, on october 3rd, poe was found in baltimore completely distressed and lost. poe was taken to washington college hospital and died at the hospital a few days later. his last heart breaking words were, "lord, help my poor soul."