what lines show foreshadowing in the poem "The Raven"

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

Answers

It must be understood that, when taken into consideration, most of the first portion, up until the the entrance of the Raven, foreshadows events most unusual and perhaps frightening will soon take occurance, but this is not necessarily an efficient answer to your question. Lines in particular that present foreshadowing are those that constitute the fifth stanza

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering feering,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before

And the silence was unbroken and the stillness gave no token and the only word there spoken was the whispered word, 'Lenore'

This I whispered and an echo murmmered back the word, 'Lenore'

Merely this and nothing more."

These lines particularly speak of strange events to come, in that they provide the reader with a very odd situation. The narrator, believing that he did in fact hear a rap at his door, attends the disturbance only to discover that there is in fact no one there at all (as the "knocks" are coming from the window, where the bird is). More over, it is when he whispers "Lenore" into the nothing, only to hear it returned as an echo.

I hope that by some chance this may indeed have provided assistance. If further questions ever present themselves concerning Edgar Allan Poe, than indeed feel free to write to me and I shall do all that I can to lend ample help.

All Respects and Regards,

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2001