The Raven Analysis

By: Sierra Wegener

Misery craves company. That is the idea Edgar Allen Poe is trying

to convey in his poem, The Raven. Having researched Poe before, I

know he has gone through traumatic events in his life. The poem

comes off that the narrator actually appears to be Poe, himself. The

second character in the poem is Lenore. Lenore appears to be a

woman who was important to Poe. The problem is Lenore appears to

be deceased. I cant relate to having someone I love pass away but I

have had an ambiguous loss. Ambiguous losses are almost on the

same pain level as a deceased loss.

The poem begins like Poes typical work, Once upon a midnight

dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and

curious volume of forgotten lore- (lines 1-2) Poe is famous for his dark

and mysterious works. This line sets up the setting for the story that

Poe conveys. He appears sleepy yet he still is up and reading, which

leads us to believe he has insomnia. As he almost falls asleep, Poe

hears knocking on the door, but no one was there. (Lines 4-6)

The second stanza continues to describe the setting. Ah,

distinctly I remember it was in the bleak of December; And each

separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. (Lines 7-8) It

is a cold and bare December according to Poe, as he sat in front of his

fireplace. He continued reading his book; the book was his substitute
for his lost one, Lenore. (Lines 10-12) Lenore is mentioned for the first

time in line 10. Poe leads us to believe Lenore and him would sit in

front of his fireplace because he admits the book he is reading takes

Lenores place or at least it attempts to take Lenores place in Poes

mind. Poe leads you to believe Lenore by the words he uses in lines 10-

11 including lost and angels name Lenore.

Line 13 describes the movement of the curtains, And the silken,

sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain. Poe is all alone at his

house listening to the curtains as they move in a creepily manor. Poe is

feeling the presence of Lenore around the house as if she is there in

spirit form. Loosing Lenore has caused Poe to loose all hope in his

dreams. (Line 26) This is a huge reason why it seems that Poe is the

narrator himself. Poe lost everything in his life including his parents,

siblings, and significant others. Loosing everyone close to you causes

you to loose faith and makes you want to give in. Poes past continues

to haunt him in his everyday life.

Poe then continues to lie in bed. Back into the chamber turning,

all my soul within me burning. (Lines 31) While Poe lays in bed trying

to fall asleep, his mind is constantly thinking. Poes past continues to

haunt him, no matter what he tries to do to avoid it. Line 36 is another

example how Lenore still haunts him. Tis the wind and nothing more!

This leads us to believe that Poe wants it to only be the wind but thats

because he is in denial.
 The poem begins to get a little strange when the raven comes

into play. (Line 38) The raven is a symbol from Poes past, how they

were so dark and dreary like the night sky. The raven flew in and just

perched its self next to Poe and did nothing more. (Line 39-42)

Nothing more is beginning to have a reoccurrence. It means that

nothing changes in Poes life, everything stays the same, effecting him

the same way, misery. Nevermore also reminds Poe that he will never

be with his family.

Line 45 states, Through thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou, I

said, art sure no craven. This line references a shorn crest as an

allusion to a medieval tradition. When a knight behaved in a cowardly

way; he would have his head shaved to embarrass him. This reference

shows the reader a stronger link between the raven and the old world

of kings, queens, and knights. This explains that the raven symbolizes

royalty.

Poes traumatic events hurt his social skills, his whole life. Poe

had a fear of people leaving because everyone leaves throughout their

life. Other friends have flown before-On the morrow he will leave me,

as my Hopes flown before. (Line 58-59) Poe has realized that hoping

for something breeds eternity misery. Hope just causes for

disappointment. Doubtless, said I, what it utters is its only stock and

store Caught from some unhappy master. (Line 62-63) This is an

example of Poes depression affecting his happiness in the state of

mine.

The raven appears to be a conniving, tricking bird. But the

Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling. (Line 67) The bird

symbolizes Poes subconscious because its tricking him to be happy.

Poe dwells on the bad things that have happened in life rather than the

fact that he still has a life. The raven is trying to trick him into getting

what he really wants. Subconsciously, Poe wants to be happy but he is

unsure of how to be happy. He hasnt been surrounded with happy

thoughts so he doesnt comprehend how to be happy.