The Raven

I love Edgar Allen Poe, and many of his works. I feel like this is one of my best pieces, and I really took my time with it. I really hope you enjoy it, and take much away from it, enjoy! 

The Raven; A Tale of Sorrow

“Quoth the Raven ‘Nevermore.’” A tale of love, loss, and sorrow, The Raven beautifully portrays human madness and suffering. With the death of his beloved Lenore, the main character (Who is unnamed.) is fraught with grief, until one night, he begins to read in his study. The poem begins with the main character pondering over what he has just read, until he is suddenly woken by a faint rapping at his chamber door.   He presumes that it is only a visitor, and politely asks them to leave through the door, but they do not leave, and continue knocking. Curious now as to whom it may be, he rises from his place at his desk, and carefully opens the door, asking, “Hello?” only to be greeted by silence and darkness.

Confused, he returns to his place at his desk, and resumes his  reading, only to be re-disturbed by another rapping, only this time, it is at his window. Hesitantly, he rises from his place, and crosses over to the window. He slowly opens the window, and flings open the shudders, only to have a raven swoop in, and land gracefully on a bust of Pallas (The Ancient Greek goddess of Athena.) above his study door. Slightly frightened by the raven’s sudden appearance, he slowly draws nearer, only to as the raven it’s name. The raven croaks “Nevermore.”

Astonished by receiving an answer at all, he proceeds to ask the raven, evidently named “Nevermore,” it’s origin, the raven merely responds, “Nevermore.” Confused as to whether this was the only word the raven knew, he begins to ask more questions, receiving in return only the word, “Nevermore.” Eventually, he begins to become annoyed by only receiving the word, “Nevermore.” He eventually asks about his beloved Lenore, hoping against hope that he will get a real answer this time, however, the raven only replies, “Nevermore.” Livid with grief, he cries to the raven, and calls it a liar, for he realizes that he will love nevermore. He will never truly be over the death of his beloved Lenore, and he will suffer for the rest of his life. It is similar to the ending of New Moon in the sense that Edward loves Bella enough not to be with her, so he is forced to leave her for her own safety.  

Knowing he will never love again, he is fraught with grief, and the poem ends. In the end, however, he is fighting himself internally with his realization in a person vs. self style conflict. To love, and to have lost hurts, and the only way not to be hurt is not to love, but is a life without love really a life at all? I will let you decide.