Papers On The Raven

Published on January 29, 1845 ("Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven First Published...January 29, 1845"), American author Edgar Allan Poe’s enchanting poem “The Raven” is frequently cited as his most cherished work of all time. While exploring themes of psychological torment, death, and grief, this poem delineates an alluringly eerie atmosphere that unfolds around the appearance of a raven. Although the raven plays a significant role, the true focus of this story is the narrator and his remorse for his lost love, Lenore. Many believe the aforementioned raven is only a metaphor; however, I believe the raven is a real bird. I believe the raven did indeed make the noises the narrator hears outside his window, and that the bird does perch atop a statue

He initially ignores these sounds and returns to his book, trying to distract himself from his grief. “Eagerly I wished the morrow; —vainly I had sought to borrow From my books a surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore —For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore —Nameless here for evermore. ” ("Reading: The Raven") This gives us insight into the narrator's loss. While the narrator attempts to forget about Lenore, he cannot divert his attention, as he is now on edge and even the smallest things seem huge and terrifying to him. The sounds persist, eventually leading the narrator to open the door, “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, ‘Lenore?’”. This quote illustrates the narrator's vivid imagination and paranoia, revealing that even in situations that have nothing to do with Lenore, he expects her presence nonetheless. The narrator closes the door, and shortly after he hears something again, this time at his window lattice, which he opens, and a raven flies in. We already know that the narrator is in a deliriously weary state and preoccupied with Lenore when he lets the raven in. At first sight of the bird, the narrator

Throughout the poem, the narrator is reckoning with the fact that death does not have prejudice, nor does it have intentions or reasons. Death occurs with complete indifference, much like the raven's response. While Poe effortlessly paints an uncanny atmosphere within a wonderfully bizarre tale, the real horror that this poem depicts is the human mind. Therefore, I believe the raven is real, and more importantly, I believe the raven is an afflatus to the narrator’s delusive imagination. Regardless of what your perspective is, however, everyone can connect to the underlying melancholic themes of this poem and truly appreciate this hauntingly beautiful piece of