Free College Essays - The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe :: Poe Raven Essays

The Raven The Raven written by Edgar Allan Poe is a very famous poertry. "The most obvious symbol is the Raven its self. Poe uses the non-reasoning raven because he wants to make us wondering why he had chosen the raven from all the other birds., and frustrate us by wondering why the raven is repeating the word nevermore. He is surprised to hear the bird speak and he thinks that no living human has ever had a bird just sit there and talk to him, and with such a name as Nevermore. This might be the point where he realises that he is dying. It is also important that the answers to the questions are already known, but in a way it helps to illustrate the self-torture the narrator exposes himself to. Another symbol is the Pallas. . It seemed that the bird had a purpose for being there. In the whole room the raven decides toperch on the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, because in a way or another he is trying to make us believe that the raven speaks from wisdom? Or was Poe just using a word only some could interpret? "And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted NEVERMORE." Through this quotation the bird has disobeyed him and is just sitting above the door staring at him. His soul is caught under the bird shadow as he passes away and it is lifted up to heaven and his fair Lenore. Poe uses midnight and December for the time the story takes place because both represent an end to something, and alsothe anticipation of something new. A new year comes after midnight, also a new day; and December represents the end of a year. Finally when I picture the room the narrator is positioned in and remembering the past, remembering how weak and weary he felt. He remembers himself he was like a lonely and sorrowful, and the richly furnished room reminds him of his lost love,