Analyzation of Raven (Edgar Allen Poe)
The Raven
The Raven is the most famous poem written by Edgar Allen Poe. It is notable because it has both melodic and dramatic qualities. This poem is written mostly in trochaic octameter, with eight stressed-unstressed syllables per line. The poem has 18 stanzas. Each stanza has an ABCBBB rhyme scheme and has frequent use of internal rhymes. The trochaic octameter and the repeated refrains, that is “nothing more” (6) and “nevermore” (48), gives the poem an almost musical quality. Poe uses emphasis on the "O" sound in certain words, such as "Lenore" (10) and "nevermore" (48) in order to indicate the depressing and lonely sound and set the tone of the poem. The repetition of "nevermore" (48) gives a certain unity to the poem, for this reason each word and line adds to the poem significantly.
The unnamed narrator appears in a lonely apartment and speaks of a "bleak December" (7) night. This night while studying his books, he is struggling to stop thinking of his deceased love Lenore. On most nights, he occasionally thinks of her but is generally able to control his emotions, although the effort required in doing so tires him. However, during this night, the protagonist becomes more agitated in mind and in action. This progression is demonstrated through his rationalizations and eventually through his exclamatory monologue. In all the end stanzas, his words suggest calm devastation in the sentence "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore." (83) This sentence is reflecting the despair of his soul.
Through poetry, Lenore's premature death is made important as the narrator is unable to let himself let go of her memory and release his reliance on it. He asks the raven if there is "balm in Gilead", asking the raven if Lenore exists in the afterlife. To his despair, when he received the answer, the raven confirmed his worst suspicions by rejecting his requests. The fear of death affects Poe's writing majorly. "The Raven" is one of his bleakest publications because it
The Raven is the most famous poem written by Edgar Allen Poe. It is notable because it has both melodic and dramatic qualities. This poem is written mostly in trochaic octameter, with eight stressed-unstressed syllables per line. The poem has 18 stanzas. Each stanza has an ABCBBB rhyme scheme and has frequent use of internal rhymes. The trochaic octameter and the repeated refrains, that is “nothing more” (6) and “nevermore” (48), gives the poem an almost musical quality. Poe uses emphasis on the "O" sound in certain words, such as "Lenore" (10) and "nevermore" (48) in order to indicate the depressing and lonely sound and set the tone of the poem. The repetition of "nevermore" (48) gives a certain unity to the poem, for this reason each word and line adds to the poem significantly.
The unnamed narrator appears in a lonely apartment and speaks of a "bleak December" (7) night. This night while studying his books, he is struggling to stop thinking of his deceased love Lenore. On most nights, he occasionally thinks of her but is generally able to control his emotions, although the effort required in doing so tires him. However, during this night, the protagonist becomes more agitated in mind and in action. This progression is demonstrated through his rationalizations and eventually through his exclamatory monologue. In all the end stanzas, his words suggest calm devastation in the sentence "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore." (83) This sentence is reflecting the despair of his soul.
Through poetry, Lenore's premature death is made important as the narrator is unable to let himself let go of her memory and release his reliance on it. He asks the raven if there is "balm in Gilead", asking the raven if Lenore exists in the afterlife. To his despair, when he received the answer, the raven confirmed his worst suspicions by rejecting his requests. The fear of death affects Poe's writing majorly. "The Raven" is one of his bleakest publications because it