The Raven
First published in 1845, ‘The Raven’ is a narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe, an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, specifically his tales of mystery and the macabre. The poem is often commented on for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mystifying visit to an agitated lover, tracing the man's slow fall into madness. The lover, often identified as being a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven seems to further distress the protagonist with its constant repetition of the word ‘Nevermore’. The poem makes use of folk, mythological, religious, and classical references.
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About the Author
Author, poet, and literary critic, Edgar Allan Poe is credited with pioneering the short story genre, inventing detective fiction, and contributing to the development of science fiction. However, Poe is best known for his works of the macabre, including such infamous titles as The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, Lenore, and The Fall of the House of Usher. Part of the American Romantic Movement, Poe was one of the first writers to make his living exclusively through his writing, working for literary journals and becoming known as a literary critic. His works have been widely adapted in film. Edgar Allan Poe died of a mysterious illness in 1849 at the age of 40.