How does The Raven fit into a romanticism writing?

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000

Answers

Hmmm by romanticism, I take it you mean romance? I believe it ties in with romance because he mentions several times that he is sad and misses Linore, and he asks the raven if he shall see her again. Hope I helped.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000

Angela,

The form of literature known as Romanticism dates from the 1700s and attempts to stir the emotions and passions of the reader. It leans heavily on the imagination and appeals to a reader's primitive instincts and sensibilities and appears to hold a partiality toward melancholy. Of course, this may not be the best description of Romanticism but I am confident it is reasonably close to make a point.

The poem "The Raven" is the story of a man in utter despair over the loss of his beloved Lenore. His anguish is seen in his desperate but futile attempts to eliminate her memory by reading ancient texts. His late night visitor initially provides some diversion from his sorrow but, in conflict with his intellect and against reason, he slowly comes to see the bird as a possible instrument of reunion with his lost Lenore. He imagines that the bird is an agent of the supernatural, sent to fulfil his desperate appeals to clear the memory of Lenore from his thoughts. He pleads for the legendary potion, nepenthe, to wash away his pain and sorrow. Refused, he asks is there "balm in Gilead", possibly a healing resin from ancient Palestine. Again refused, he pleads to know whether that, at least in death, will he once more be united with Lenore... the bird responds again with the haunting refrain, "Nevermore".

This poem, first published in January 1845, meets all the criteria mentioned above and, clearly, meets my personal perception of Romanticism. (But that doesn't make it correct, merely my opinion!)

Regards,

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2000