Le Corbeau / The Raven

Name: Le Corbeau / The Raven
Author: Edgar Allan Poe

The Raven is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in January 1845. It tells the story of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught 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 instigate his distress with its constant repetition of the word "Nevermore". The poem makes use of a number of folk, mythological, religious, and classical references. The poem begins with the narrator lamenting the death of his beloved Lenore. He is sitting in his chamber, half-drunk and half-asleep, when he hears a tapping at his door. He opens the door to find a raven, which he initially believes to be a sign of ill omen. The raven can only speak one word, "Nevermore". The narrator is perplexed by the raven's presence and questions it about various topics, such as lost love, faith, and the afterlife. The raven's only response is "Nevermore". As the poem progresses, the narrator's sanity deteriorates as he becomes more and more obsessed with the raven and the word "Nevermore". In the end, the narrator is left in despair, accepting the finality of death and the impossibility of recovering his lost love.

By Edgar Allan Poe · First published 1845 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Romanticism, Horror · 2,653 words

First lines

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."

"Une fois, par un minuit lugubre, tandis que je m'appesantissais, faible et fatigué, sur maint curieux et bizarre volume de savoir oublié -- tandis que je dodelinais la tête, somnolant presque: soudain se fit un heurt, comme de quelqu'un frappant doucement, frappant à la porte de ma chambre -- cela seul et rien de plus."

What this Textopian page supports

Le Corbeau / The Raven is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, dated 1845 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Date: 1845 CE
Language: English
Genres: Gothic Fiction, Romanticism, Horror, Mystery, Poetry
Length: 2,653 words
Structure: 1 section, 36 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Work identity for Le Corbeau / The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Gothic Fiction — Le Corbeau / The Raven is a classic example of Gothic fiction, with its dark and mysterious setting, supernatural elements, and themes of death and despair.
Romanticism — The poem is a prime example of the Romantic movement, with its focus on emotion, nature, and the power of the imagination.
Horror — The poem is filled with horror elements, such as the mysterious raven, the dark and eerie setting, and the themes of death and despair.
Mystery — The poem is filled with mystery, as the narrator is left to ponder the meaning of the raven's words and the implications of its presence.