1. English III - 10/25/18 Bell work: Take out your “Raven” work.
Take out the symbolism chart you drew earlier in the week.
Take out additional paper for notes.
Agenda
Discuss “The Raven”
You will answer two questions.

2. Listen to it….

3. Reading old books, midnight, knock on his door
Happened in December, ghostly setting
Freaked out by curtains, reminds himself its just a person at the door
Works up the courage to answer – apologizes to the “visitor” for taking so long – nobody there
Stares into the darkness, starts thinking about “impossible ideas” – whispers his dead wife’s name.
Goes inside, realizes the knock is at his window, not the door, figures it is the wind

4. Opens the window, a raven walks in like it owns the place
Opens the window, a raven walks in like it owns the place! Goes and sits on his statue above the door.
He laughs at himself, and the bird. The bird looks so serious! He talks to it, asks it what he’s called in Hell? Bird answers: “Nevermore”
He’s shocked to hear the bird speak, even though its answer didn’t make sense. Says, “gotta admit – this is weird!”
He sits. The bird sits. He says to himself, “you’ll leave me – just like everyone else has.” The bird says, “nevermore”.
He’s shocked now, because the bird seemed to understand what he said. He tells himself this must be the only word the bird knows. His former owner must’ve been miserable if all the bird learned to say was, “nevermore,”

5. He is still amused by the bird
He is still amused by the bird. He pulls up a chair and sits to look at the bird. Now he starts to think there must be a reason the bird is here saying “nevermore”.
He sits there thinking about it. He slowly realizes that he’s sitting in his dead wife’s chair. Realizes she will never sit there again.
He feels something come over him. Like the room has changed – senses the presence of an angel. He says to himself “The bird has been sent to you by God to help you forget your pain!” The bird says, “Nevermore.”

6. His attitude toward the bird is changing
His attitude toward the bird is changing. He now calls it an evil fortune teller. Says he doesn’t know if he’s been sent by the Devil, or is here by accident. He begs the bird to tell him if there is anything that will help him forget his pain? The bird says, “Nevermore.”
Calls the bird an evil fortune teller again. Asks the bird if he will ever be able to hold his wife again? Will he see her in paradise? The bird says, “Nevermore.”
He’s mad now. He jumps out of his chair and tells to bird to get out! Go back to Hell! Leave him alone! The bird says, “Nevermore.”
The bird is still sitting there, never moving, on his statue, above his door. The bird’s eyes are demonic. The lamp above the door casts the bird’s shadow on the ground. His soul is trapped beneath the bird’s shadow – for evermore.

7. Symbolism
If this was a math problem, you’d read it as “Raven OVER Pallas,” or “Death OVER Wisdom.” Why does this matter??
Who died?
Raven=Death
Death of Lenore!
Pallas=Wisdom/mind
Meaning?
Whose shadow?
The narrator will never escape from the “shadow” or the memory of Lenore’s death!
The shadow of Lenore’s death

8. Symbolism Midnight: End. Of What? December: End. Of What?
End to his happiness and his sanity.
Significant because…
Poe wrote this while his own wife was dying.
He knew he would never get over her death – her death was the end of his happiness and sanity.

9. Watch it…

10. Answer BOTH questions in CQC format!! Use whatever class time remains.
Two Questions:
Answer BOTH questions in CQC format!!
Author’s purpose?
What is the real purpose of this poem? What is the message? Cite at least one piece of textual evidence.
Symbolism?
Pick one symbol and explain it.
Use whatever class time remains.
Finish for homework.