The Raven

Summary

"The Raven" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's most well renowned works, first printed in the New York Evening Mirror on January 29, 1845.

First published in January 1845, the poem is noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness. The lover, often identified as 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.