by Laila Khan

Created on: July 03, 2008

It is rare that one word in literature can conjure up thoughts of a specific work. This, however, is the case with Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". With the word "nevermore" comes thoughts of quite possibly the most famous American poem. The expert imagery and symbolism in this poem combined with the rhythmic flow make this poem worthy of the respect it is given.

The very first line sets the dark mood for the piece as it reveals the setting, "upon a midnight dreary." The fact that it also takes place in December further establishes the mood, as both midnight and December symbolize an end. The "dying embers" in the fireplace that shed ghost-like shadows on the floor are also at their end, as the fire dies slowly. When the character goes to open the door, to find who is tapping on his door, he finds only darkness, "and nothing more." This continues the dreary mood. The raven that enters the room is symbolic of death and darkness, and it was chosen for this reason. When the character asks the raven's name, he asks what it is called on "Night's Plutonian shore", or the shores of Hades. Hades, the afterlife or hell, is another symbolic end, this time in the form of a definite end: death. Even the single word that the raven speaks, "nevermore", is symbolic of an end. Several times throughout the poem, Poe speaks of shadows upon the floor. Shadows, though created by light, are as dark and dreary as the night. As the character cries to the raven to know of his Lenore, he refers to it as a prophet or angel sent from God. He speaks as though the raven has come to take him to Heaven. This is, again, a reference to an ultimate end. The last stanza concludes the piece by referring to the raven as a demon that never moves and never leaves, though the character begs it to. Finally, Poe states that the character's soul will never again be lifted from the dark and dreary shadows.

The poem does not speak of light, except when referring to shadows caused by it, or hope. It is a dreary and sad poem with dark symbolism and imagery. The end of the poem is meant to be the end of hope, love, and life. "Nevermore" shall the character be lifted from the shadows; "Nevermore" shall he see or hear of his Lenore; "Nevermore" will he be given relief from his sorrow and loneliness; "Nevermore" will he regain his lost hope. "Nevermore", the word that is repeated eleven times in the poem, summarizes the meaning of "The Raven". It is, quite simply, an end.

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