what is the raven about?

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i understand that the concept of 'the raven' is basically about death and how lenore's death haunts the narrator, but what i want to know is; is it based on real events or happenings in poe's life? what inspired him to write this poem? or is it just the bizarre ramblings of a mental chap?? was it drink? this seems to me to be a common reason for curious poetry that becomes unfortunately famous... just take ted hughes for example?

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2003

Answers

This is a story. Accroding to his essay "The Philosophy of Composition" it is whole fabric fiction to evoke an ideal poetic sentiment. however it does draw upon Poe's own experience generically and in particular his plumbing of his poetic core, a solitary grappling with the power of his vision. It attracts and repels yet the experience itself is the poet's total preoccupation- no matter how it ends up. Hence the crazed dialogue-monologue where he literally drives himself to despair, the current sad state of affairs where he seeks the Ideal but can only sink beneath a grim haunting of the past.

He perhaps draws from the loss of his first sweetheart who married another. He treats that as a kind of double death in "The Assignation" once again the fictionalization and high art showing the poetic inspiration has sublimated any real biographical concern. By the time of "The Raven" this theme, reinforced by real life disappointments perhaps, was in one form or another central to many of his works. The too real death of his wife was still far off. The story is no more odd than one of his tales. Combined with his deceptive essay it is just as well explained(or not): one singular mind self-absorbed and obsessed with amemory that can only haunt and oppress.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2003


shut up wordy faggot.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2005

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