I'd like to know he selected a raven rather than any other, I mean under the circumstances he used to write I can understand he wrote his nightmares, didn't he? ... but why did he selected a raven? why was it special for?. I need this information because I'm working on a school task and I really need this information. Looking forward to read the answer soon, Secil.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

Answers

Secil,

Your best bet is to read Poe's 1846 "Philosophy of Composition", a kinda schematic for his methodology in constructing the poem. It may not hurt to research a little about the bird. Ravens are generally thought to be very intelligent creatures with a predisposition for uncanny mimicry. They also carry some baggage in legend for their shiny color, their age old history for pranks and as harbingers of ill omen. Poe's essay can be found at the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore website at http://wwweapoe.org.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2002

It symbolizes death, the coming of death.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2002

Ravens are sometimes seen as souls coming back from the world from whence they came in order to complete some task thy had left undone.

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2002

secil - poe had actually considered using other birds before the raven, including a parrot and an owl. he picked the raven because the raven is meant to symbolize wisdom and prophecy.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2002