Edgar Allen Poe wrote “The Raven” in 1845. The poem went on to be one of Poe’s most famous works in his collection. The poem centers around a man in his chamber in the middle of December. Readers find that the male has recently lost a loved one named Lenore. As he reads to himself, he encounters a mysterious Raven at midnight. He is entertained by it and says a few words to the Raven, and he notices that it only repeats one word- “nevermore.” The nameless man hopes for his loved one to come back from the dead, however, the readers can come to realize that there is nothing more than just a bird reflecting death as well as the man’s sorrow. This poem reveals a man who has only fallen deeper into depression, loneliness, and madness from the death of a loved one.
Poe uses a variety of poetic devices to create an overall tone and mood of the poem. Poe also developed a way to create a special relationship between the form of the poem and what the larger message of the poem is. Having such variety of poetic devices, as well as having a deep connection, helps engage the audience and make the writing more interesting.
Throughout the poem, Poe uses a well-known poetic device, rhyme. Poetry is known for its pleasurable rhyme scheme that develops a tone which can cause emotions or enrich possible ideas. It is significant for the reader to understand the rhyme scheme because it is a way to fully comprehend the poem. We want to know in what way us readers are supposed to be reading it. Should it be serious or should we say it in a tune like way? This poem has a distinctive pattern of end rhymes and internal rhymes, creating the scene and tension. Using these type of rhymes, the writing becomes into a type of song.
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When watching a horror film, the film starts off with a slow, frightening song later evolving into a fast-paced deep tone. For example, “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, / Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore” (1, 2). The poem starts off with a slow spell like rhythm until it gradually starts to get intense at the end, having the reader on the edge of their seat. Edgar Allen Poe has a constant action of repeating all his words. A word that is mostly repeated is “nevermore” as shown in stanzas eight through eighteen.
What could his repetition signify? In most situations, having constant repetition can show a state of obsession. In this poem, we can infer that Edger Allen Poe is obsessed with showing and bringing out the state of madness in his character. He repeats the word and makes a rhyme as well as a clarification of what the character is feeling. Having the Raven repeat the word confirms to the reader and to the poem’s character that from this point on, the character’s life will only be going downhill.
The poetic device that is most significant is imagery. Imagery is when the poet can have the reader use their senses. Imagery can vary from, hearing, sight, taste, and touch. In other words, the poet creates a picture, and has the reader feel like they are really in the poem. For example, “And the silken, sad, uncertain, rustling of each purple curtain/ thrilled me-filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before'(13). Edgar Poe uses visual imagery to create a horror-like scene for his readers. In his poem, he uses a specific bird, a Raven. People usually know the Raven as a symbol of bad luck. “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” (104).
This stanza is very significant because it shows the shared madness of both the Raven and the man. With his intense wording, we can see what the Raven is doing, what the energy the Raven is giving, and what the environment was like when the Raven is present. In this case, the Raven can be the symbol of the girl’s death, and bad luck on the male who is continuing to fall deeper into depression as time passes. Throughout the poem, Edgar Poe uses a variety of strong word choices to create a mood of sadness, horror, and loneliness for his readers.
The form of a poem has a very close, inseparable relationship with its content. It’s not a coincidence that the stanzas in “The Raven” are all the same structure, there must be a reason why the poet chose such a detailed structure for his poem. Readers can agree that the poem is long and tough to read. However, Poe had a reason for crafting the poem in this way. The reason that the poem is so long is because of its hidden connection to the man’s mental state. The story of the poem unfolds over 18 6 line stanzas. Readers would have to take a large amount of their time to read the entire poem as well as understanding the true meaning.
Going through the state of depression is not something that is quick or easy to get over. In fact, some people may not get over it at all. It is something that takes time and a lot of strength. Poe does not make this poem lengthy for without a reason. Poe was interested in creating an experience with his poetry. He hoped to build tension and suspense. The form of the poem accomplished these things and sets Poe on a path of theatrical writing. Poetry is an art form where the structure of the poem needs to have a relationship with the context. Having those two together can have the reader interpret the poem into their own meaning.
All poets use a variety of devices to help create a deeper meaning in their poem. In “The Raven,” the words are put together in a special format where they can create a rhythm. The poet uses specific diction to create a mood as well as imagery for all his readers. The poem has a specific length or structure to create a connection with its words. By using these elements, this poem creates an attraction for many readers because it creates a deep meaning that leaves readers in amazement.
In the poem, “The Raven”, Edgar Allen Poe tells a story about a man who falls deep into loneliness and depression. He developed an image for us reader by the type of dictions and rhyme scheme he used. A poetic device that was extremely powerful and significant was the length and hard context of his poem. He creates a connection with his character by using the length of the poem and how he is falling deeper into depression. Poetry does not just have one message; it is a story that can have multiple hidden meaning.
References
- The Raven – Analysis of the poem and its themes.
- Poetry Foundation – Description and analysis of “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe.
- Edgar Allan Poe Museum – Information about “The Raven” and its significance in Poe’s works.
- GradeSaver – Summary and analysis of “The Raven” with study guide questions.
- Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) – Guide on how to write research papers, including tips for finding credible sources.
- JSTOR – Digital library containing academic journals, books, and primary sources for research purposes.
- Google Scholar – Search engine for scholarly literature including articles, theses, books, and conference papers.
- PubMed Central – Access to a large collection of biomedical and life sciences journal articles.
