the raven
Few American authors have obtained the level of popularity that Edgar Allen Poe has risen to. This popularity and his trademark macabre writing style have made some of his literary works such as The Raven a long-time classic in literature. This work in particular, exhibits some characteristics of folklore. Folklore has long been associated with oral passage, custom-related themes and unknown authors; however, I believe that there are exceptions to the typical definition and that almost all literary works, old and new, have at least a trace element of folklore contained within them. The Raven is a poem that, which at first glance depicts a man reading a book (about "forgotten lore") in his bedroom late at night that seems to be on the edge of sanity. After a series of tappings at his bedroom door he later finds a bird perched above his door. He asks the bird several questions, all of which are answered with, "nevermore." After reading the poem carefully it is apparent that the man is mourning over his beloved Lenore. The man believes the raven will end his sorrow, "respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore." (Nepenthe is a reference from The Odyssey of a drug that prevents grief) In the end the bird ends
Late bleak December is synonymous with frigid cold, pain, depression, and an overall lack of color. There is one particular reference made to a dirge, which implants dark images in the reader's mind. Color is a symbolic part of the poem. " The image of the raven perched on the goddess of war fills the mind with images of violence, loss of hope, doom, and insanity, which seems to be part of the theme in the poem. Why would Poe choose a raven as the messenger of nevermore? I believe the bird was chosen because of its ability to fly and ascend into the heavens and its legendary status as a "soul taker. This (late bleak December) is a description of the inhospitable climate in which the misery associated with the raven thrives. The black raven, which is part of the evil and dark motif in the poem, robs the man of his soul on a late bleak December night. Pluto, according to legend, is the god of the underworld or Hell. The raven can also be classified as a myth or legend - the taker of souls and deliverer of death. The Raven incorporates myths, legends, superstitions, and a motif making it one of Poe's most interesting pieces. It is that superstition which Poe uses to doom the man in his bedroom. up robbing the man of his hope, "And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor shall be lifted - nevermore!" There are several superstitious references throughout the poem, the first and most obvious is the raven. Poe makes a reference to Pallas, which is another name for the Greek goddess of warfare Athena. Poe writes, "Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - perched, and sat, and nothing more.
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Acceptance Essays
