Name Date

TheRaven/Hair-RaisingTalesUnit Period

Directions: After each stanza from “The Raven” write the meaning in the box in the second column. In the last column, note any figurative language in that stanza.

The RavenBy Edgar Allan Poe

Onceuponamidnightdreary,whileIpondered,weakandweary,Overmanyaquaintandcuriousvolumeofforgottenlore--WhileInodded,nearlynapping,suddenlytherecameatapping,Asofsomeonegentlyrapping,rappingatmychamberdoor.“’Tissomevisitor,”Imuttered,“tappingatmychamberdoor--Onlythisandnothingmore.”

Ah,distinctlyIrememberitwasinthebleakDecember,Andeachseparatedyingemberwroughtitsghostuponthefloor.EagerlyIwishedthemorrow;--vainlyIhadsoughttoborrowFrommybookssurceaseofsorrow--sorrowforthelostLenore--FortherareandradiantmaidenwhomtheangelsnameLenore--Namelesshereforevermore.

AndthesilkensaduncertainrustlingofeachpurplecurtainThrilledme--filledmewithfantasticterrorsneverfeltbefore;Sothatnow,tostillthebeatingofmyheart,Istoodrepeating“’Tissomevisitorentreatingentranceatmychamberdoor--Somelatevisitorentreatingentranceatmychamberdoor;Thisitisandnothingmore.”

Presentlymysoulgrewstronger;hesitatingthennolonger,“Sir,”saidI,“orMadam,trulyyourforgivenessIimplore;ButthefactisIwasnapping,andsogentlyyoucamerapping,Andsofaintlyyoucametapping,tappingatmychamberdoor,ThatIscarcewassureIheardyou”--hereIopenedwidethedoor--Darknessthereandnothingmore.

Translation Figurative Language

Deepintothatdarknesspeering,longIstoodtherewondering,fearing,Doubting,dreamingdreamsnomortalseverdaredtodreambefore;Butthesilencewasunbroken,andthestillnessgavenotoken,Andtheonlywordtherespokenwasthewhisperedword,“Lenore?”ThisIwhispered,andanechomurmuredbacktheword,“Lenore!”--Merelythisandnothingmore.

Backintothechamberturning,allmysoulwithinmeburning,SoonagainIheardatappingsomethinglouderthanbefore.“Surely,”saidI,“surelythatissomethingatmywindowlattice;Letmesee,then,whatthereatisandthismysteryexplore--Letmyheartbestillamomentandthismysteryexplore;--‘Tisthewindandnothingmore.

OpenhereIflungtheshutter,when,withmanyaflirtandflutter,IntheresteppedastatelyRavenofthesaintlydaysofyore.Nottheleastobeisancemadehe;notaminutestoppedorstayedhe,But,withmienoflordorlady,perchedabovemychamberdoor--PercheduponabustofPallasjustabovemychamberdoor--Perched,andsat,andnothingmore.

Thentheebonybirdbeguilingmysadfancyintosmiling,Bythegraveandsterndecorumofthecountenanceitwore,“Thoughthycrestbeshornandshaven,thou,”Isaid,“artsurenocraven,GhastlygrimandancientRavenwanderingfromtheNightlyshore-TellmewhatthylordlynameisontheNight’sPlutonianshore!”QuoththeRaven,“Nevermore.”

MuchImarvelledthisungainlyfowltoheardiscoursesoplainly,Thoughitsanswerlittlemeaning--littlerelevancybore;ForwecannothelpagreeingthatnolivinghumanbeingEveryetwasblessedwithseeingbirdabovehischamberdoor--Birdorbeastuponthesculpturedbustabovehischamberdoor,Withsuchnameas“Nevermore.”

ButtheRaven,sittinglonelyonthatplacidbust,spokeonlyThatoneword,asifitssoulinthatonewordhedidoutpourNothingfartherthenheuttered;notafeatherthenhefluttered--TillIscarcelymorethanmuttered:“Otherfriendshaveflownbefore-Onthemorrowhewillleaveme,asmyHopeshaveflownbefore.”Thenthebirdsaid“Nevermore.”

Startledatthestillnessbrokenbyreplysoaptlyspoken,“Doubtless,”saidI,“whatituttersisitsonlystockandstore,CaughtfromsomeunhappymasterwhomunmercifulDisasterFollowedfastandfollowedfastertillhissongsoneburdenbore--TillthedirgesofhisHopethatmelancholyburdenboreOf‘Never--nevermore.’”

ButtheRavenstillbeguilingallmysadsoulintosmiling,StraightIwheeledacushionedseatinfrontofbirdandbustanddoor;Then,uponthevelvetsinking,IbetookmyselftolinkingFancyuntofancy,thinkingwhatthisominousbirdofyore--Whatthisgrim,ungainly,ghastly,gaunt,andominousbirdofyoreMeantincroaking“Nevermore.”

ThisIsatengagedinguessing,butnosyllableexpressingTothefowlwhosefieryeyesnowburnedintomybosom’score;ThisandmoreIsatdivining,withmyheadateaserecliningOnthecushion’svelvetliningthatthelamp-lightgloatedo’er,Butwhosevelvetvioletliningwiththelamp-lightgloatingo’erSheshallpress,ah,nevermore!

Then,methought,theairgrewdenser,perfumedfromanunseencenserSwungbySeraphimwhosefoot-fallstinkledonthetuftedfloor.“Wretch,”Icried,“thyGodhathlentthee-bytheseangelshehathsenttheeRespite-respiteandnepenthefromthymemoriesofLenore!Quaff,ohquaffthiskindnepentheandforgetthislostLenore!”QuoththeRaven,“Nevermore.”

“Prophet!”saidI,“thingofevil!--prophetstill,ifbirdordevil!--WhetherTemptersent,orwhethertempesttossedtheehereashore,Desolate,yetallundaunted,onthisdesertlandenchanted--OnthishomebyHorrorhaunted--tellmetruly,Iimplore--Isthere--istherebalminGilead?--tellme--tellme,Iimplore!”QuoththeRaven,“Nevermore.”

“Prophet!”saidI,“thingofevil!--prophetstill,ifbirdordevil!BythatHeaventhatbendsaboveus--bythatGodwebothadore--Tellthissoulwithsorrowladenif,withinthedistantAidenn,ItshallclaspasaintedmaidenwhomtheangelsnameLenore--ClasparareandradiantmaidenwhomtheangelsnameLenore.”QuoththeRaven,“Nevermore.”

“Bethatoursignofparting,birdorfiend!”Ishrieked,upstarting--“GettheebackintothetempestandtheNight’sPlutonianshore!Leavenoblackplumeasatokenofthatliethysoulhasspoken!Leavemylonelinessunbroken!--quitthebustabovemydoor!Takethybeakfromoutmyheart,andtakethyformfromoffmydoor!”QuoththeRaven,“Nevermore.”

AndtheRaven,neverflitting,stillissitting,stillissittingOnthepallidbustofPallasjustabovemychamberdoor;Andhiseyeshavealltheseemingofademon’sthatisdreamingAndthelamp-lighto’erhimstreamingthrowshisshadowsonthefloor;AndmysoulfromoutthatshadowthatliesfloatingonthefloorShallbelifted--nevermore!