"

1845

The Raven

By Edgar Allan Poe

C; dreary means: _ _
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I

pondered, weak and weary,

a) gloomy, sorrow b) cheery, happy,
dismal bright
Over many a quaint and curious volume

of forgotten lore,
What is going on in this stanza?

While I nod~~d, nearly napping,

suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping

at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered,

What do you think the room looks like?
Size:
"tapping at my chamber door­

Only this, and nothing more"

Ah, distinctly, I remember

Ocher:
it was in th~ bl.eak December,
" And each separate dying ember Agree or disagree?

.., wrought its ghost upon the floor.

_The narrator is in a great mood.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;-­

_ The narrator is lost in thought.
vainly I had sought to borrow
_ It is a cold, bleak night, with little cheer.
_ The fire is slowly dying.
From my books surcease of sorrow­
_ He's reading to get a break/rom the sorrow
sorrow for the lost Lenore­
of losing his love, Lenore.
Nameless here for evermore

And the sil ken sad uncertain

_ Just as the narrator thinks he hears a rapping

rust Iing of each purple curtain
at his chamber door, the wind rustles the
Thrilled me- filled me with
curtains and fiightens him even more.
fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating

of my heart, I stood repeating,

_ he speaks to himself
'''Tis some visitor entreating
_ he thinks that some late visitor is begging
entrance at my chamber door­
entrance to his room
CJ Some late visitor entreating

entrance at my cha~ber door;­

This it is, and nothing more."
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, prepared by jjw
 Presently my soul grew stronger;
Agree or Disagree;
hesit~ting then no longer,
_ _ He bas collected himself, and is no longer '1
"Sir," said I, "or Madam,
startled by the rapping. ..."
_ _ He knows he heard a rapping, but finds no
truly your forgiveness I implore;

one outside his chamber door

But the fact is I was napping,
_ _ He dreamed the rapping.
and so gently you came rapping,

_ _ The rapping was real.

And so faintly you came tapping,

tapping a! my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you:­

here I opened wide the door;­

Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering,

What isthe narrator thinking about at this moment:

long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals

ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken,

and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken

J
_ _ He really heard something spoken.
was the whispered word, "Lenore!"
_ _ His mind is playing tricks on him.
This I whispered, and an echo

murmured back the word, "Lenorel"­

Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning,

all my soul within me burning,

Write down two things that are true in this stanza.
Soon again I heard a tapping

t)
somewhat louder than before.

"Surely," said I, 'surely that is

something at my window lattice:

2)

Let me see, then, what thereat is,

and this mystery explore-

Let my heart be still a moment

and this mystery explore;­

'Tis the wind and nothing more.

The Raven by EdgAr AllAn Poe, prepared by jjw

.
Open here I flung the shutter, when,

with many a flirt and flutter,

When the raven steps into the chamber, he walks in
In there stepped a stately raven
with mien of lord or lady... this means:
of the saintly days of yore;
Circle one
Not the least obeisance made he;
a) like a peasant or servant-bent, poor and
timid.
not a minute stopped or stayed he;
b) like a lord or lady-tall, rich and powerful
But, with mien of lord or lady,

perched aboye: my chamber door­

Perched upon a bust of Pallas

Pallas is a reference to: _ _ _ _ _ _ __
just above my chamber door­

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Match the meanings.

Word Meaning
Then this ebony bird beguiling

craven a. amusing
my sad fancy into smiling,
ghastly b. coward
By the grave and stern decorum
beguiling c. conduct
of the countenance it wore.
decorum d. frightful
"Though thy. crest be shorn and

Here's a hint•••1ry substitining the meaning word into Poe's

shaven, . word and say the sentence to yourself. If it makes sense, then

the meaning is correct.

thou," I said, "art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient raven : INFORMAnONAL TIP •
wandering from the Nightly shore­
Tell my what thy lordly name is
on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
I
~
I
Pluto was the Roman god ofthe dead.
A black raven is often a bad omen that forecasts
death. .
ij
CD = iI uU'unUUUiU ................. PAl, rD""_.,........

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Agree or Disagree?

Much I marveled this ungainly fowl

_ _ He was surprised beyond belief that the

to hear discourse so plainly,

Raven could speak.

_ _ He's not sure why the bird's name is

Though its answer little meaning­

"Nevermore."

little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing

that no living human being

Ever yet was blest with seeing

bird above his chamber door­

Bird or beast upon the sculptured

bust above his chamber door,

With such name as "Nevermore."

The R4ven by Edgar Allan Poe, prepared by jjw

 But the raven, sitting lonely
Illustrate a raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust
on the placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul

in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing further then he uttered­

not a feather then he fluttered­

Why do you think the bird says only "Nevermore."

Till I scarcely more than muttered,

"other friends have flown before­

On the morrow he will leave me,

as my hopes have flown before."

Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Match the meanings.

Startled at the stillness broken
Word Meaning
stock and store a. death chant
by reply so aptly spoken,

dirges b. properly stated

"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters
unmerciful Disaster c. Fate
is its only stock and store,
aptly spoken d. routine ofspeech
Caught from so~e unhappy master

Here's a hint. •.try substituting the meaning word into Poe's word a ' \
whom unmerciful Disaster
say the sentence to yourself. lfit makes sense.. then the meaning is " "
c:orrect.
Followed fast and followed faster

till his songs one burden bore­

Agree or Disagree?
Till the dirges of his Hope
_ _ The narrator guesses "Nevermore" a word
the raven heard from a past master in his
that melanchply burden bore
griefof losing a love.
Of 'Never- nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling

all my fancy into smiling,

_ _ He then wonders that the bird may possibly

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat
have a reason for saying only "Nevermore."
in front of bird, and bust and door;

Important tip:
Then upon the velvet sinking,

I betook myself to linking

A fancy can be a dreaIn, or nightmare, or
Fancy unto fancy, thinking
imagination...so when the narrator "betook myself
to linking fancy unto fancy," he was:
what this ominous bird of yore­

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly,

------~
gaunt and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, prepared by jjw

 This I sat engaged in guessing,
Agree or Disagree?

" but no syllable expressing

_ _ This ~ thinks and wonders why the bird
C) To the fowl whose fiery eyes now continues to say, "Nevennore." There must
be a reason. Could it be from the lost
burned into my bosom's core; Lenore?
This and more I sat divining, _ _ He seems relaxed at this point in the tale.
with my head at ease reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining

that the la~p'ight gloated o'er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore)

Match the meanings.

Word M~Djng
Then methought the air grew denser,

respite and a. drink, swig, guzzle

.perfumed from an unseen censer
nepenthe
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls
Quaff, oh quaff b. angel
tinkled on the tufted floor.
Seraphim c. miserable creature
wretch d. rest and relief
·Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent

through drug
thee-

by these ange.ls he hath sent thee

Here's a hint. .•try substituting the meaning 'word into Poe's word and
say the sentence to yOlD'SClf. ·Ifit makes sense, then the meaning is
i '-C) Respite- respite and nepenthe, correct.

from thy memories of Lenore! Agree or Disagree?

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe
_ _ The ~or doesn't seem to happy at this
and forget this lost Lenore!" point because he smells the fragrance of his
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." lost Lenore.

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of eviU­

prophet still, if bird or deviU­

Another way to say it, ..

'Wb.et1ler Tempter sent, or w1letier tempest tossed

Whether Tempter sent, or whether

tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted,

on this desert land enchanted­

Agree or Disagree?

On this home by horror haunted­

tell me truly I implore-

I _ _ He seems relaxed.

Is there- is there balm in GiJead?­

_ _ He seems distraught, and in great grie£

tell me- tell me, I implore)"

C; Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." _ _ He doesn't think there is any relief from his

sorrow,

The ReVell by Edger Allen Poe. prepared by jjw

 "Be that word our sign in parting,

Match the meanings.

bird or fien~," I shrieked upstarting­

-­
Word Meaning
"Get thee back into the tempest
tempest a dark feathers
and the Night's Plutonian shore)
fiend b. The devil' s realm
Leave no black plumes as a token
black plumes c. storm
Night's Plutonian d. evil spirit
of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
shore
Leave my loneliness unbroken!­

Here's a hint..•try substituting the meaning word into Poe's word and

quit the bust above my door!

say the sentence to yourself. If it makes sense. then the meaning is

correct

Take thy beak from out my heart,

and take thy form from off my door!"

Agree or Disagree?
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

narrator has lost all control or sane

_ _ The
. thought, and only suffers for his lost Lenore
And the Raven, never flitting,
-- The Raven is there to ever remind the
still is sitting, still is sitting
narrator's ofhis grief for his lost Lenore will
"never" heal.
On the pallid bust of PaJias

just above my chamber door;

Why won't the narrator's soul ever be lifted from

And his eyes ha~e all the seeming

the shadow ofthe Raven on the floor?

of a demonis that is dreaming,

_ _ _ _ _~J
And the lamplight 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 Iifted- nevermore!

The end
Application (how does this relate to me?)
Agree or Disagree?

- - One never recovers from a lost love.

_ _ A lost love cannot be replaced, but another
can be found
and sorrow can play strange games
_ _ Grief
with the mind ... it's best to accept and move ...)
through it.

_ _ When a raven appears perched above one's

chamber door, it's time to see the doctor.
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. prepared by jjw
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1845
THE RAVEN
• by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door­

Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I.~emember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore­

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name L.enore­

Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,

"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;­

This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door;­

Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering,

fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore!"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word,· "Lenore!"­

Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore­

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;­

'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shu~ter, when, with many a flirt and

flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he: not a minute stopped or s.tayed

he:

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door­

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door­

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no

craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore­

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

] of3 9120198 9:55 AM

llllP:/lWWW.gUUlIC.llCLlPUC:'WUflUlilnlvell.LXI nUp:lIWWW.gULtIlC.lJt:llpoelWOrKS/raVen.txl

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we-cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door-
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered~ not a feather then he fluttered­
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown
before-
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore­
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never- nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and
door;

Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-

What this grim, ungainly, ghas.tly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Serappim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he
hath sent thee
Respite- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven,· "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "~hing of evil!- prophet still, if bird or

devil!­
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore-
Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil- prophet still, if bird or

devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore­
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore­
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked,

J
20f3 9120198 9:55 AM
 upstarting­
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my
door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

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 lamplight 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!

-THE END­

30f3 9/20/98 9:55 AM