THE RAVEN- EDGAR ALLEN POE ASSIGNMENT Paul Zuo 1) Do some research on ravens.

What symbolic meanings, both positive and negative, do ravens have in various cultures? (make sure that you cite your sources and you do NOT copy and paste your answers) According to Squidoo, ravens symbolize a bad omen. It represents death in many areas and also is often associated with a forewarning of war. At the same time, the Raven is a trickster and a teacher and a bringer of great magic. 2) How is "The Raven" an example of Gothic poetry? Do some research to support this. Provide a thorough explanation, and include the URL from where you gathered your information. The Raven incorporates several elements of torture, both self inflicted and externally inflicted. Torture, pain, sorrow and death are all parts of Gothic fiction, all of which are found in The Raven. (http://www.blurtit.com/q2920127.html) 3) Based on the research you've done for #1 and2, why might Poe have chosen to use a raven in this particular poem rather than a different bird? In other words, how is a raven more appropriate to the content and theme of this poem? The raven is black like the soul of the narrator of The Raven. The raven, itself, has a very dark connotation to it. Its one of the rather mystifying birds in the selection of birds and gives a haunting feel to the Gothic fiction style. 4) Identify: provide an example of both end rhyme and internal rhyme from the poem. Cite the lines directly, and bold, italicize or use an alternate color on the rhyme itself so I can see you know what it is. end rhyme: "Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door Darkness there and nothing more. internal rhyme: Eagerly I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow 5) Provide an example from the poem of alliteration, assonance, and consonance. Be sure you clearly identify which sound is being repeated by bolding or italicizing or using a different color for it. Alliteration: And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Consonance: While I pondered weak and weary

Over many a curious volume of forgotten lore

Assonance: While I nodded, nearly napping 6) Like our lonely and depressed speaker, do you ever find yourself talking to animals? Do you ever imagine them saying something back? Explain your answer. Uhhh. This is a funny question, Hahaha. I dont think Im paranoid enough to be as insane as the narrator. Maybe by the end of the semester of this class, I will have lost enough sanity to be lonely and depressed like the speaker and I will indeed be talking to animals. I might even have delusions that they are talking to me back! Who knows? ;) 7) On that note, do you think the speaker of this poem has really lost his mind, or does he just seem very, very sad to you? Elaborate using at least two specific details from the text.

I think The Raven elaborately depicts the man go through his demise. He starts off reflecting on Lenore and ends up quoting the raven nevermore. He starts off relatively sane but by the end of the Raven, the narrator has become desperate and insane. Detail 1: Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore This reveals that the narrator was just going through mundane actions at first. He was clearly reflecting on the loss of a loved one, Lenore. Detail 2: Is there is there balm in Gilead? tell me tell me, I implore!" "Nevermore." Quoth the Raven

The second quote reveals his mental instability towards the end of The Raven. He starts talking with the raven and every action of the Raven leads to his self-destruction. By the end, he is already corrupt. 8) Do you trust the speaker? Do you think he gives us an accurate version of reality, or is it possible that he is making up or distorting some of these things? Why? Again, use at least two details from the poem to support your response. In many ways, I do trust the speaker. The depiction of what the narrators going through is presented so vividly in the Raven that every fabric of emotion is exposed. Theres really nothing that the man is retaining. I think its more convoluted because the narrator at first tries to explain things rationally but by the end he cant express anything beyond his mental state. Detail 1: 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 Lenore Nameless here for evermore. Detail 2: 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." 9) Think of a movie or another piece of literature where a person's love became an obsession. Share the name of the movie and character here, and what the end result of that obsession was. If you can't think of any, feel free to Google this and see what comes up! Share URLs if necessary. Romeo and Juliet is a prime example of love becoming an obsession. Clearly the consequence of the love between Romeo and Juliet was that every action became intuition for them. They found that every move that they made was supposedly destined and therefore led to their demise, which ultimately resulted in both of their deaths. 10) Lastly, in your opinion, why do you think people are so drawn to stories (and movies) of horror? I personally find horror stories to be thrilling and fascinating. The Raven is actually one of my favorite works by Poe and he is an amazing writer in my opinion. I think the everlasting feel of horror movies/stories remains in our heads and gives a lasting impression.