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 sitting in his chamber, pondering the loss of his beloved Lenore. Suddenly, a raven appears at his window and perches on a bust of Pallas. The narrator is surprised by the raven's presence and, half-believing it to be a sign from the gods, asks it a series of questions. The raven's only response is "Nevermore". As the narrator's questions become increasingly desperate and morbid, the raven's repetition of "Nevermore" serves only to deepen his despair. Eventually, the narrator despairs of ever finding peace and, overcome by his emotions, sinks into a fitful slumber. The poem ends with the narrator's final admission that his soul is trapped beneath the raven's shadow.
By Edgar Allan Poe · First published 1845 · Genre: Gothic Literature, Romanticism, Mystery