Raven

Rich Lion Period 2

12/17/08 English 11 Analyzing “The Raven”

Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” has been an American classic for centuries. Poe’s unique style often seizes the attention of readers. There are three literary terms that further enhance the poem and give it further meaning. Poe often used parallel structure to show two or more words had equal importance. What most readers notice about his poems is his sad and downtrodden mood. And lastly, it is seen how Poe often, if not always, used symbols. Edgar Allen Poe used parallel structure several times during “The Raven.” “As of someone gently rapping, rapping, at my chamber door/ tis some visitor,” I muttered, tapping at my chamber door” (Poe 298). It is seen that Poe uses rapping, and tapping which are synonyms to show how strongly he heard the tapping and how it disturbed him although it was only “gently rapping.” Perhaps the most important literary term that Poe used in his poems, were symbols. These symbols not only represented the person in the poem, but represented Poe himself. The raven from “The Raven” played the role of