The Raven Analysis

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."



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.



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."



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.



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.



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."



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.



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."



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."



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."



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'."



But the Raven still beguiling all my 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."



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 lamplight gloated o'er,

But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore!



Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls 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."



"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."



"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."



"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."



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 lamplight 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!

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This poem is meant to mean fear nothing but fear itself

| Posted on 2010-02-07 | by a guest

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Tmklsmm klnk k ldfk0 ! itnvl -03m iesm rlmb , flmfhn kmgsk mrom xkmgsp[a,mvkhnti.

| Posted on 2010-01-20 | by a guest

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Edgar lost many women important to him in his life and seems to be a central theme throughout his poems. This poem exploits peoples phycological fears and allows the reader to make up their minds of what it may be at the door. This is most of the time more scary than a stated form of terror

| Posted on 2010-01-13 | by a guest

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this poem is a metiphore of his life. he was perfectly content then the raven appears.(his cousin) which he loves then the bird becomes silent (signifying death)and poe becomes distrought and casts wat was left of his fealing away in a storm og hate.

| Posted on 2010-01-07 | by a guest

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He didn't marry his mom, he married his cousin. They both died of tuberculosis. He is writting "The Raven" to honor his lost wife. Not his mother.

| Posted on 2010-01-07 | by a guest

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The post below this is exactly right. After reading the poem i reallized all the same things. Especially that he was married to his mom and wanted to be gangsta.

| Posted on 2010-01-04 | by a guest

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Alright, you liar. It is apparent that you didn't really know Edgar, but I did. What he means about the raven is that it is his personal friend and sometimes he talks to it but today it was giving him the silent treatment and Edgar got all sad. And his wife actually his wife like he says. The only wierd part about it is that it is his mom. So Edgar Allan Poe is married to his mom.
When he says "bitch make me some dinner" he is actually trying to be gangsta.

| Posted on 2010-01-04 | by a guest

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I read the poem,and i think its brillant. I dont know much personal information about Edgar Allan Poe, what im lead to believe in this, is that he has been faced with the death of he's beloved lenor. Ravens are known to be intelligent birds, and the wisdom of what he says to the man after a death seems to be a cruel realtiy of what he knows to be true and what he's trying to deny.

| Posted on 2009-12-23 | by a guest

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This poem signifie th sad loneeliness of this man and how his lover died then the deathly eil bird comes an and angers him he will love his lover never more

| Posted on 2009-12-16 | by a guest

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Lenore, whose name is changed in other poems to Eleanor was the mother of one of his closest companions. He fell in love with her but proceeded in marrying his wife Virginia. At this time she is dead. I belive this poem to be about the dark recesses of memory and the fear of uncovering them. The Raven is an unnerving concept to the POV as it has no productive answers.

| Posted on 2009-12-13 | by a guest

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there could have been another women that inspired Poe to write this poen

| Posted on 2009-12-12 | by a guest

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This poem is about Poe's mind breaking down after losing his mother and on da verge of losing his love. The Raven isn't just one thing, it is a combination of several subjects in Poe's mind. It may very well be that "Nevermore" is Poe's mind trying to deal with mortality as a whole not just himself or his loved ones, that he will never see them again. Poe's is at the least slightly depressed and unsure of his reality in this poem, and lets make it clear that anything you write has your traits and shows if only a fraction of your mind state and personaility. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the pattern the poem is written in as even that can affect any piece of literature, the similar sounds throughout this peom may not just be because it is a poem but rather for the intensity it provides and adding to the thriil of the poem, giving us ups and downs in both emotions and sense of time.

| Posted on 2009-12-03 | by a guest

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the respect some of you are giving poe is wrong he was a wonderful writer an d he wrote this probaly to express his feelings because he knew he was going to lose his love soon i'm an eight grader and i understand this better than some of you thats sad

| Posted on 2009-12-02 | by a guest

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This is a really good poem. I like birds so it is very interestong to me.

| Posted on 2009-12-02 | by a guest

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This is actually a beautiful poem. The Raven, back then, it was a mythical creature, known as ill omen. I also agree with one of the comments, the bust of Pallas is very important. It is known as the Goddess of Wisdom. But when the Raven spoke Nevermore, the narrator knew the Raven isn't speaking from wisdom. This poem is hard and requirs you to know the history of Poe and the history it was written in.

| Posted on 2009-11-28 | by a guest

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as i read through the lines of this poem i can sense that the writer is very much in love and longing for his lost Lenore. I didn't really appreciate the poem at first but as I went through the lines and carefully dissected each words I began to feel the essence of this poem. Now I am decided that this would be my final piece for the competition on poetry interpretation. I am hoping that I could give justice to this poem by delivering it nicely and appropriately.

| Posted on 2009-11-23 | by a guest

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it's kinda difficult to understand because of the words he used but somehow amazing because he expresses what he really feels.

| Posted on 2009-11-23 | by a guest

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it's kinda difficult to understand because of the words he used but somehow amazing because he expresses what he really feels.

| Posted on 2009-11-23 | by a guest

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I believe that this poem by Edgar Allan Poe is a definet expression of his mind going while trying to deal with the death of his mom, and his wife's death to come. The raven seems to be a potential covering for death, because it knocks on his door and he allows it in, symbolizing he is allowing it to enter his life. When he is talking to it he is trying to come to terms with death. By the end of the poem it seems like, even though he can't escape it and that it will always haunt him and will stop hios lfe from going on, he has come to terms with it and is willing to accept it into all aspects of his life, like I said before.
H.J.

| Posted on 2009-11-19 | by a guest

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uqqqqh .,
i hate dhiiss [ l a m e . ] asss
poemm !

| Posted on 2009-11-09 | by a guest

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This poem is about Poe's mind breaking down after losing his mother and on da verge of losing his love. The Raven isn't just one thing, it is a combination of several subjects in Poe's mind. It may very well be that "Nevermore" is Poe's mind trying to deal with mortality as a whole not just himself or his loved ones, that he will never see them again. Poe's is at the least slightly depressed and unsure of his reality in this poem, and lets make it clear that anything you write has your traits and shows if only a fraction of your mind state and personaility. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the pattern the poem is written in as even that can affect any piece of literature, the similar sounds throughout this peom may not just be because it is a poem but rather for the intensity it provides and adding to the thriil of the poem, giving us ups and downs in both emotions and sense of time.

| Posted on 2009-11-02 | by a guest

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I disagree with the poster below. On line 36 when he says "bitch make me some dinner" he is actually making a statement that all women, or "bitches" as he refers to them, belong in the kitchen cooking and have no right to do anything else. His tone is agressive because women today are leaving there kitchens are he strongly disagrees with this.

| Posted on 2009-10-30 | by a guest

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in line 36 where it says "bitch make me some dinner" he shows how mad he was at his wife, probably because the damn bird got in though the window.

| Posted on 2009-10-29 | by a guest

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I think its saying that no matter how hard you close the door, birds will always be able to get into your house.

| Posted on 2009-10-29 | by a guest

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Whoever posted the comment about "The Raven" Being a stupid poem is completely wrong.
And, his wife died after the poem, am I correct? Well, it is about how he KNEW he was going to be grieving after she died.
It is about how devastated and horrified he would be after she was lost.
And, think about the wording. In the first part where the raven says "Nevermore," He asks the raven's name. That's basically introducing the raven's eerie way of speaking. In the second part, the narrator tells himself the raven will go away. And the raven says, "Nevermore." Creepy, right?
And, this is sad:
In the third to last stanza, the narrator asks if he will ever see his love again. The raven replies, "Nevermore."

| Posted on 2009-10-26 | by a guest

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Whoever posted the comment about "The Raven" Being a stupid poem is completely wrong.
And, his wife died after the poem, am I correct? Well, it is about how he KNEW he was going to be grieving after she died.
It is about how devastated and horrified he would be after she was lost.
And, think about the wording. In the first part where the raven says "Nevermore," He asks the raven's name. That's basically introducing the raven's eerie way of speaking. In the second part, the narrator tells himself the raven will go away. And the raven says, "Nevermore." Creepy, right?
And, this is sad:
In the third to last stanza, the narrator asks if he will ever see his love again. The raven replies, "Nevermore."

| Posted on 2009-10-26 | by a guest

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This poem, after further review, has been closed for discussion.
-Administrators

| Posted on 2009-10-24 | by a guest

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so like i think it's about how he likes seeing birds cause it helps him studies. sometimes i hear things outside my window too. maybe poe is a distant relative or something. please call me if you agree.
(313) 247-9874

| Posted on 2009-10-17 | by a guest

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Yes, "The Raven" was written prior to the death of Poe's wife Virginia, but think about it. At this point in Poe's life his mother and foster mother both died from tuberculosis. He knew what was going to happen to Virginia. He was projecting forward to a world where Virginia was not.
As many people have referenced, the actual raven is a reference to death and almost a grim reaper. Many cultures believe that having a black bird in your house is an omen of death, and since this is a British tradition and Poe did receive part of his education in England, he would most likely have known this reference.
There are a few statements various posters have made that I would like to offer a differing perspective on:
The narrator is in a somewhat sleeping state when he believes he hears someone knocking to enter his home. Upon hear this he instantly remembers his lost love, and as we find out later in the poem when he opens the door and calls for her, he is secretly hoping that she will be on the other side of that door. Poe was fascinated by death, since he lost some many loved ones, particularly women, when he was young.
I did not read all the posts, but the ones I read did not mention the significance of the bust of Pallas, which I found quite surprising. Not only does Poe make a point of saying the raven instantly perched on the bust, but he also mentions he never moves from it, obviously this is significant.
Pallas is know is two ways. He is identified as a god of war, or when in reference to Athena, the goddess of Wisdom. The second of the two seem a more likely reference. Poe was very interested as are most individuals in knowing what happens after death, and having death perched above him on some unknown wisdom seems very fitting.
In the beginning, the narrator tries to explain away the raven's responses; "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'."
Basically, he says the bird picked up saying nevermore because his master said it all the time.
Eventually, there is a shift in how he views the bird. He begins to call it a prophet. He asks it a series of questions: Is there balm in Gilead, is a biblical reference to a 'cure all' balm that would sooth away pain; he's asking if the pain of losing Lenore will ever go way. Will I ever see Lenore again?
This kind of knowledge has an affect on the narrator knowing or believing that he will never get over Lenore's death and that he will never be reunited with her again hangs over him and oppresses him all of his life.
I never took that the raven hanging over the narrator's soul meant he died, but rather that he never could escape death and losing those he loved, but who can?
I have to admit that I did not read this post over, which means that it may contain a few errors, but in reference to the post at the bottom of this page, I’m not sure how anyone could believe that this poem ends with the narrator believing that he could move on. Being forced to the floor with the shadow of death over you does not sound like a happy, moving on with life thought.

| Posted on 2009-10-17 | by a guest

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As I suppose, Edgar Allan Poe was content and happy with his beloved Lenore. He picked up sorrowful books that would remind him of her. Then he said he went napping. So why can't we say he at once went sleeping. In this sleep, he had "dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before". In that horrorific dream, he walked towards the room where he had heard the tapping and rapping.He found the ebony raven who had a decorum of countenance that made the poet comfortable with him. And the word "Nevermore" as I think, it means he will never get his mind off his previous dreadful thoughts and sentiments. And, as a ghost, he mentions that he saw his body "floating on the floor", which will never be lifted, "Nevermore".Which means that at the end, death "The Raven" that was still sitting has taken his soul and he will nevermore survive it again.

| Posted on 2009-10-14 | by a guest

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it seems not to be from his direct point of view, but very close, poe's wife was not dead but was sick from what had taken her shortly after the poem was written. The man in the poem feels like he has not fully lost his love while he sits remembering and looking at her painting on his wall, the one the angels called "Lenore" the raven is death, the realization that she is gone and not coming back."nevermore" he trys to attack the raven, trying to chase it out of his home and his life, keeping lenore alive, but she will never be back, "nevermore" he ends up climbing the walls and shelves to get rid of the raven, but ends up falling and killing himself as he does, death(the raven) takes him aswell. as he lays dead on the floor never to live again "And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted- nevermore!"

| Posted on 2009-10-13 | by a guest

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I'd just like to let everyone know: Poe's wife died of tuberculosis in 1847, two years after The Raven was published. She was already dying from it at the time, but I'm just sayin. The person in a poem or the poem's narrator doesn't *necessarily* have to be the poet her/himself.

| Posted on 2009-10-04 | by a guest

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This poem is truly timeless and beautiful,Poe is alone in his chamber door’s wallowing in the agony of the death of his loved one Lenore. He is going through old books perhaps photos mourning her death of his love. To him Lenore is nothing short of an angel, the heavens created a single perfect beautiful being. He really appreciated her existence. When you have truly genuine feelings for some one or something honestly and unconditionally, you want to hold on to it forever. You can’t even come across the thought of loosing what you hold dear. When you truly love; You truly hurt. The things that give us are greatest joys make our greatest sorrows. For everything dies everything must come to an end. You wish to be alone and remember good times, The raven symbolizes death and the separation of 2 beings .It also brings the thought of what gives us are greatest joys gives us are greatest sorrows. “Every rose has its thorns” if you will. After death has left the Poe alone he’s left with the thought of never seeing his beautiful Lenore again, never to hear her, Never to hold. “Quoth The Raven never more “ (FreakGoneMad)

| Posted on 2009-09-21 | by a guest

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The phrase "nevermore" is meant for the man he is torturing himself because he likes to feel sad. He asks the Raven question after question because he knows the answer will be "nevermore"

| Posted on 2009-09-20 | by a guest

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I feel that the raven is symbolic for his actual realisation of his wife's death, and although he lives alone and hence gets so scared by some late visitor he is even more upset by the raven as he cannot deny his wife's death any longer "nevermore". The raven remaining with him shows that he will constantly be reminded of his wife's non existence.

| Posted on 2009-08-31 | by a guest

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I just love poems with alot of meaning towards them in reality we all are intitled to our own opinions but im slowly analysing this poem and (Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam) that tells me that the raven its not a a man or women its unknown or it could be his subconcious like a few people have described but i dont think its about his wife i believe its someone that left him way before mayb his mother or mayb even him self but all i know its mind blowing its very fascinating and thrilling keeps you guessing but whos who and whats what and i just love mistery but i think when he wrote this he was confused and he was experiencing alot of internal pain from previous things in his past but i also believe in the last verse 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! It very much says that you can think about death or keep hurting forever but life goes onnn and the pain is not gonna go away but to be strong because your life must go on even with agony.J

| Posted on 2009-08-23 | by a guest

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A raven means death and darkness.
I remember memorizing parts of this poem, The raven. To me it meant regret and sorrow for past things done, lost love, current things not changed.

| Posted on 2009-08-12 | by a guest

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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."
"Balm of Gilead" is a sort of a medical cream used for dry skin. And Tuberculosis can affect your skin.(I know it is a disease that mainly affect your lungs but check wikipedia if you don`t believe me) So he is asking if there excist some medicine so that he can save "Lenore" (Or Virginia). He is hoping, but the Raven keep on saying "nevermore", and crushes is hope once again. This was like a reply to you who wanted to know about exactly that part!
Thank you! all of you! Now that I understand the poem I love it even more!

| Posted on 2009-08-11 | by a guest

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i think this poem was written in Poe's depression of losing his wife the dates said above may or may not be right but i've decided to say it
also i'm doing this for my english assignment so i had to research and in doing so i found that a lot of art work that has been made in honnor of this intense poem (sorry for the bad spelling)

| Posted on 2009-07-24 | by a guest

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Personally, I believe that the poem is based on a feeling we all have when we lose something or someone that means alot to us, and the raven is the harsh reality of what we can never recreate...that our beloved it's nevermore.
Izzi

| Posted on 2009-07-21 | by a guest