Landmark Work

The Raven

Edgar Allan Poe · 1845 · Poem

Public domain (US)

Author

Edgar Allan Poe

Summary

A narrative lyric in which a grieving student is visited by a raven that can say only one word, driving him toward despair.

Literary Tradition

American Gothic

Major Themes

  • Loss
  • Memory
  • The supernatural
  • Obsession

Historical Importance

One of the most famous American poems of the 19th century, admired for its sound and structure.

Discussion Questions

  • How does repetition build the poem's pressure?
  • Is the raven supernatural, psychological, or both?
Read externally

TassandraInk does not own this work. Availability depends on its copyright status.

Back to Writer's Corner