The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe | Summary & Analysis

Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, and themes in Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven.


Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" details the descent of its speaker into madness.

Mourning the loss of his love Lenore, he is visited one night by the inscrutable bird of the title. Suspecting that the raven is a supernatural being, he petitions it for information about Lenore but is only met with replies of "Nevermore." The bird's ominous repetition of the word slowly drives him into fury and despair.

The richly alliterative verse and internal rhyme of the short story lend it a sing-song musicality at odds with the Gothic literature subject matter, cementing its iconic status in popular culture, where it has been referenced in hundreds of films, songs, and novels.

Troubled American writer Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven was first published in January 1845. Part of its fame comes from the use of an unnamed narrator, the main character whose grief-stricken mental state over Lenore gradually deteriorates over the course of the poem stanza by stanza.

The book contains many powerful themes, such as Pallas Athena representing rational thought, Pluto representing the unbridgeable gap between life and death and the profound effects of the loss of a cherished love. Other themes include death, loss, loneliness, nightmare, alienation and the supernatural.


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[stephenugochukwu]

Thank you, sir; I am watching this in 2020 for my English assignment.

[tamalpaisgames]

The poem is about the futility of looking for signs in nature. The guy is grieving, his partner died. He clings to anything that might hint to a greater power to the universe. He tries to get some insight from the raven in the same way you'll shake an 8 ball if you don't like the answer, and keep shaking until it tells you something new. The raven is just a raven, squawking it's name, and the man grows more and more frustrated not because he dislikes the raven's answers but because he refuses to accept a chaotic universe, one without symbols or signs.

[enocestrada]

Thank you so much for this analysis. I was so lost reading this poem and confused in every stanza about what he meant

[gulnaroguz]

I am watching this for fun. I love Edgar Allan Poe and his gothic and creepy stories. I couldn't quite understand the Raven as it was filled with Old English language, but this video helped me understand how a simple poem can have thousands of different interpretations.
I love writing, and I wish to write as good as Edgar one day.

[flamo]

I just want to mention... at 0:51–and each time since, that’s the sound of a crow, not a Raven. Ravens have more of a croaking noise, and can imitate human words. Other than this easy to make mistake, i love this video!

[rubirina]

The connotations of this poem would surely remain outside the door of my comprehension had I not opened my window lattice to this video of yours. Thanks a lot.

[larrymcnally]

There is a reason that Poe refers to the bust as that of Palas and not Palas-Athena. Although readily accepted as a duality (Palas-Athena) Myth states them as look alike but separate childhood mates. All ened ill for Palas when a sparring accident of Athena killed her. Palas was human.

[millennial]

00:11 - Plot
02:36 - Key characters
03:47 - Lenore
04:21 - Central symbols
06:43 - Pluto
07:26 - Central themes
08:41 - Death in the afterlife
09:25 - Loss and grief
10:08 - Loss of the past

[IdkWhatToMakeMyHandle-_-]

Me trying to understand sunrise on the reaping 😭

[storytime_with_auntiek]

Has anyone else considered that Lenora could be the narrator’s daughter?

I’ve heard many people call her his lover or imply they were in a relationship but the word “maiden” pertains to an unmarried girl, a virgin. It takes a very close loved one to make a man so overcome by grief that it would lead his to madness and death

[jolenehendrickson]

my dad was a English and American lit. teacher and he would recite parts of Poe's poems so this helps understanding better. Thank you!

[bankrolliediamonds]

This is such good analyzing! I suggest to those watching, watch, “Edgar Allan Poe’s THE RAVEN” on youtube then watch this, trust me you’ll have a very clear understanding.

[ailaranta]

There is no other word like nevermore that can express the vacuous terror, when we realize we shall never again meet someone we loved.

[randocalrissian]

I'm just trying to understand this after randomly remembering the Simpsons first Treehouse of Horror episode that featured it, I recommend it to anyone wanting ANOTHER view on the story because seeing Homer depicted as the speaker is interesting (its season 2 episode 3 @ 16:01 btw)

[mystic_tacos]

All one must do is read almost any of Poe's works enough times, and you will begin to understand what is happening in the background. I am 47 years old, and I've been reading his works since I was 14, I've only had to turn to a breakdown of one of his poems in all this time, The Conqueror Worm. Sometimes I wonder if that is just because it is just so long.

[jebidiahnewkedkracker]

I can now see how this poem is considered literary genius-- it starts out on a note of neutrality, then a just a PINCH of lightheartedness/humor, then plunges the readers into the "dark side" with ever increasing notes notes of depression, anger, fear and madness, or what could be called too, a loss of BALANCE.
There is NO doubt E.A.P. had A LOT on his mind, and thoughts have "weight" of a sort. There IS, I detect, a DANGER in really getting to know such a poem and/or identifying with it....A Danger of joining Mr. Poe on "Pluto's shores" The Twilight Zone, or just plain HELL, generally NOT a good idea to be knocking on Mr. Poe's door....Unless you're VERY CONFIDENT as your status a "RAVEN".😶😐😶😐

[tugba]

I have to write an essay about the poem and this video helped me a lot to understand the poem. thank u for explaining the poem perfectly

[avivastudios]

This is very good work. And the images were lovely.

This is one of the best poems ever written. The flow the words. So much to disesct.

[monimonisha]

Tq so much sir😍😍😍 I'm from Tamil Nadu. Actually i want to see ur videos for 2 reason. First is way of teaching i had influenced and Second one is way of speaking eng . Tq so much sir ur videos more helpful for us 😍🤗

[michaelgalan]

I'm doing apart of my Extended Essay for the IB program and upon reading it I really felt like Poe was trying to reveal the duality that of human nature, seeing as how both light and the darkness are constant contrasts made within the poem. Like the man in the poem was conversating with himself- the side of him that has embraced the darkness of the situation, but he simply will not confirm to such a standard.