The Raven

"The Raven" is a narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published on January 29, 1845. It was added to his collection, The Raven and Other Poems, published the same year on November 19. It is one of his best-known works. Themes include grief, death, and loss.

Background
It was composed while he lived at the Brennan Farmhouse, believed to have been inspired by his own chamber living there. During the time, his wife (who was his 13-year old cousin) was dying from tuberculosis.

First published in New York's daily newspaper The Evening Mirror, "The Raven" was an immediate success. It has also spawned parodies, such as "The Owl" by anonymous writer, "Sarles." While it brought him to fame and was even given the nickname, "The Raven," he still struggled financially. In his essay piece, "The Philosophy of Composition," (April 1846), Poe explained the process behind writing "The Raven," where each part was "logically chosen for effect."

Plot
The poem takes place in December, at midnight, where a raven enters through the window and perches on the bust of Pallas Athena. The scholar mourns the death of his lover, Lenore, while the raven merely utters the single word, "nevermore."

Style
With the rhyming scheme of ABCBBB, it holds a total of eighteen stanzas, with six lines in each stanza. The first five lines are written in the trochaic octameter, while the sixth line is a trochaic tetrameter. It has been believed the meter was inspired by an Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem, whom the author has expressed admiration for.

Trivia

 * The poem has been referenced many times in pop culture, including The Simpsons, Batman (1989), and Dr. Doolittle 2.
 * The NFL team, Baltimore Ravens, were named in allusion to Poe's poem, due to historical significance.