FREE ESSAY ON THE RAVEN

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 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. The raven can also be classified as a myth or legend - the taker of
souls and deliverer of death. The raven has long been associated with both evil and
death. 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. Poe writes, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on
the floor; And my soul out of that shadow that lies floating on the floor; Shall be
lifted - nevermore. There is an old superstition that anyone who falls under a raven's
shadow will have his soul taken from him. It is that superstition which Poe uses to doom
the man in his bedroom. The man will forever dwell in misery and lost hope.
The raven is not the only mythological reference throughout the poem. 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. 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. There is another reference made to a mythological character, Pluto. Pluto,
according to legend, is the god of the underworld or Hell. The man believes that the
raven wanders from the Plutonian night's shore. This further perpetuates the underling
theme of darkness and doom.
Color is a symbolic part of the poem. There are several references made to the color
black, which is tied customarily to funeral attire, evil, death, and the over-all fear of
the night. There is one particular reference made to a dirge, which implants dark images
in the reader's mind. 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. Late bleak December is
synonymous with frigid cold, pain, depression, and an overall lack of color. This (late
bleak December) is a description of the inhospitable climate in which the misery
associated with the raven thrives. The use of color is powerful throughout the poem and
could lead to a tremendous amount of interpretation.
The Raven incorporates myths, legends, superstitions, and a motif making it one of Poe's
most interesting pieces. The poem is written in a way that leaves the ending up to the
interpretation of the reader. Does the man die or does he go insane? My personal
interpretation is that the man will dwell in constant state of morning for Lenore. Had
Poe not incorporated the myths, superstitions, legends, and the symbolic motif of the
raven the poem would not have had the same impact. It is those ingredients that give the
poem flavor, set the mood, and provide titillating imagery.