2 of 26

Write now Article Tools

Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849) was born in Boston, Massachusetts to David and Elizabeth Poe. When his mother Elizabeth died in 1811, he was looked after by the family of John Allan who was a tobacco-merchant. Edgar Allan's poem 'the Raven' became very popular when it was first published in 1845 and the writer gained a lot of recognition for it.

The first thing that is striking about 'the Raven' is the alliteration (repetition of the initial consonant sounds) that is used throughout the poem. In addition to this, there is repetition of words to emphasise the rhyming pattern. For example, in the first stanza he writes 'some one gently rapping, rapping at' And again in stanza two 'from my books surceases of sorrow ... sorrow' and this repetition of words is continued in each of the stanzas that follow.

The poem is about Poe's encounter with a raven on a December night when he is nodding off to sleep while reading a book of poems. While the dying embers in the fireplace cast their shadows upon the floor, Poe is reading so that he can forget his sorrow at losing Lenore, whom he describes as 'the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore'. He hears a tapping at his bedroom door and dismisses it as 'some visitor tapping at my chamber door, only this and nothing more'

The stanzas that follow describe his fears at the thought of who this person might be who is tapping at his chamber door and he uses words like 'fantastic terrors', 'beating heart' and 'thrilling' as he is both scared and excited at the thought of this visitor who is going to enter his chamber door. As he gathers strength he asks the 'Sir' or Madam' why they are tapping at his chamber door while he is napping and also why they are tapping so faintly that he finds it hard to hear it, but when he opens the door wide there is 'darkness there and nothing more'

Poe then uses words like 'wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming' as he peers into the darkness and he 'dares to dream as no human being has ever dared to dream' and he calls out to Lenore in the darkness and he hears the echo of his voice back saying 'Lenore! Merely this and nothing more' This stanza suggests the yearning that Poe has for this woman Lenore and it is as if he wants to see her in the darkness and also hear her reply to his call but at the same time he is scared as to what he will see.

As the tapping gets louder Poe thinks it could be the wind so he finally
finds the courage to open the window. He finds there a stately raven who

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Poetry analysis: The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe?
We want to hear your view. Write now!