I am doing an American Literature course and just read the poem "The Raven", and I would like to know if the ending is supposed to mean he died or if he realizes that you can't raise the dead?

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2003

Answers

The ending is his realization that his wife isn't coming back to life. It could also be about how you can't raise the dead. Another thought is that the raven mentioned in the story could have been an illusion in his mind (the drinking and drugs things and all). Anyway I hope that helps a little.

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2003

Im doing a research paper on 'psychological horror in Poe's stories and poems. What could I point out as psychological horror in The Raven?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2004

Because while he was writing the poam his wife, Virgina, was dieing of turberkulosis in the room next to his. He was tring to describe how he felt then and how he would feel after her death. The raven symbolizes Virgina and how her death will forever hunt him.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2005