Background Ravens are large, loud, aggressive birds; they are keen-sighted, wary, and usually solitary. They are long-lived and, as pets, may learn to mimic several words. Ravens’ fearlessness and cleverness have earned them admiration. Poe’s raven alights on a bust of the Greek goddess of wisdom, Pallas Athena, whose symbol was the owl. Poe first considered using an owl or parrot as his bird, but chose a raven because of its symbolic associations. We will make note of these associations on the handout you’ve been given.

old-fashioned charm manner knowledge, learning charming, coaxing sinister, threatening knowledge, learning charming, coaxing trying to figure out room (often bedroom dignified manner I thought produced face incense burner an end coward highest-ranked angel asking earnestly said carpeted beg felt surprised temporary relief sign ungraceful, awkward anything that causes forgetfulness shutter connection with the topic pale long ago peaceful gesture of respect songs of mourning ominous wise omens advise sin devil death

the pattern of end rhyme in a poem a: weary b: door b: lore b: door c: tapping b: more Masculine: 1 syllable rhymes (heart, part) Feminine: 2 or 3 syllables (vanity, humanity) the use of words that sound like their meaning rapping croaking tapping shriek rustling fluttered rhyming words that fall inside a line remember, December 3rd and 4th lines of each stanza repeating of rhymes and of words and phrases, helps create the poem’s rhythm, emphasize ideas 4th & 5th lines of each stanza – often emphasize key idea last line of each stanza (hook) the repetition of initial sounds l. 45: shorn and shaven l. 71: grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt near rhyme (imperfect rhyme – close, but not quite) l. 85: evil, devil l. 87: undaunted, enchanted object representing something other than itself Raven=pain of losing Lenore (will never leave) December’s cold=the speaker’s feeling of emotional coldness

Other Notes / Inferences Stanza Summary of Events Other Notes / Inferences 1   2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Reading at midnight, almost nodding off, he hears tapping at the door. It’s December. He’s trying to read to keep his mind off lost Lenore. Is Lenore dead? (Angels name her.) Why December? Cold, dead (like feelings, Lenore) He’s frightened but determines it’s surely only a visitor. Allaying his fear with explanation of sound He musters his courage and speaks to his visitor, opens the door, and discovers no one there. He calls out for Lenore into the darkness (daring to hope she’s alive) and only hears an echo. He goes back inside and hears the tapping again—“It’s just the wind.” Again trying to allay his fears by justifying the sound Symbolism=Pallas Athena is goddess of wisdom (The speaker may attribute wisdom to this bird.) The raven walks in like he owns the place and perches above his door on the bust of Pallas. The raven makes the speaker smile because of its serious attitude. The speaker guesses it’s sent from the underworld & asks it its name. The speaker is surprised at the raven’s ability to speak and notes how fortunate he is to be visited by a bird named “Nevermore.” #blessed What does the reply “nevermore” foreshadow?

Other Notes / Inferences Stanza Summary of Events Other Notes / Inferences 10   11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 He says, “The raven will abandon me, just like everyone else, and like my hopes.” The bird seems to counter that. He thinks the bird learned the word “nevermore” from an unhappy master, who only knew misfortune. He is pondering what the bird means by “nevermore.” Alliteration: grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt He gets distracted by thinking about how Lenore will never again press her head to the cushion. What personification is used? He calls himself a wretch for failing to recognize that God sent the bird as a distraction from his pain. A change in atmosphere = a change in the speaker’s mood He begs the raven to tell him if he will ever have peace. He says, “Nevermore.” He pushes further and dares to ask if he will be reunited with Lenore in heaven. The raven again says, “Nevermore.” Since the bird doesn’t give him an answer he likes, he gets angry and tells the bird to leave. The raven refuses. The bird will never leave. The speaker will never be able to remove his soul from the bird’s shadow. The narrator will never again see his love. The raven represents the speaker’s pain over the loss of Lenore.