Beware! “The Raven” synopsis below does contain spoilers!
"The Raven" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's most famous works. The poem takes place just after midnight on a December evening. A depressed man is sitting in his library, drifting in and out of sleep as he reminisces about Lenore, his dead lover.
Suddenly, he hears a knock or tapping, but sees nothing on opening his door. Startled, he convinces himself it was only the wind against the window. He goes to the window to let in fresh air, and a raven swoops in, who perches above the door.
The narrator talks to the bird, and inquires if it has a name. The raven says, "Nevermore". Surprised by this response, the narrator continues to question the bird. The bird's only reply to questions is, "Nevermore".
The narrator fears the bird was sent to torture him. He asks a final question: will he ever hold his love, Lenore, again? The raven, of course, answers, "Nevermore". It becomes clear throughout the poems that the man is delirious and distraught over the loss of his love.
Edgar Allan Poe's, The Raven is a favorite poem for teachers and students to ponder, however, it can be challenging to analyze. Engage students with the dynamic and interactive activities above that focus on creating a summary, theme, visual vocabulary, literary elements and more!
