Questions and Answers
What is the setting?
It takes place in a young man's chamber on a dull and dreary night in December at midnight.
What point of view is it told in?
First person
What conflict does the narrator experience?
Man vs. self, which is an internal conflict.
The conflict is a battle between _______
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Why is the narrator insane?
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Who is Lenore?
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Who did Poe create Lenore after? Why?
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What noise does the narrator hear?
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What happens over the course of the story?
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What does the raven saying 'nevermore' symbolize?
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Where does the raven sit?
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What does the narrator find when he first opens the door?
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What does rapping mean?
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What does the narrator try to do throughout the story?
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What does the raven look like?
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What did the narrator think of what the raven was saying?
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What does the narrator try to do?
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What does the bird become an image of?
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What particular question does the narrator ask the raven?
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At the end of the story, what does the narrator want the raven to do?
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When the raven leaves, what is that a symbol of?
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Study Notes
Setting
- Takes place in a young man's chamber at midnight on a dreary December night.
Point of View
- Narrated from the first-person perspective.
Conflict
- Central conflict is man vs. self, representing the narrator's inner turmoil.
Internal Struggle
- The narrator grapples with the desire to love Lenore versus the need to let her go.
Insanity
- The narrator exhibits signs of madness by repeatedly seeking a different answer from the raven, which only responds with "nevermore."
Lenore
- Lenore is the narrator's deceased love, symbolizing lost affection and sorrow.
Inspiration for Lenore
- Poe modeled Lenore after his wife, Virginia, who passed away shortly after the poem's publication.
Noises in the Chamber
- The narrator hears a tapping at his chamber door, escalating in intensity.
Climactic Events
- The persistent noise intensifies, contributing to the narrator's mental unraveling.
Symbolism of "Nevermore"
- The raven's repeated phrase "nevermore" symbolizes the finality of loss and the necessity to let Lenore go.
Raven's Position
- The raven perches on a bust of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, suggesting themes of knowledge and mourning.
Initial Encounter
- Upon opening the door, the narrator finds nothing, heightening suspense and isolation.
Meaning of Rapping
- The term "rapping" refers to the tapping sound the narrator hears.
Self-Convincing
- Throughout the poem, the narrator tries to rationalize the noises as mere products of wind or imagination.
Description of the Raven
- The raven is described as ebony, with a serious, grave expression that adds to the story's ominous tone.
Perception of the Raven's Speech
- The narrator finds the raven's ability to speak nonsensical and is astonished by it.
Quest for Understanding
- The narrator seeks to comprehend the meaning behind the bird’s words.
Representation of Death
- The raven ultimately becomes an emblem of death, reflecting the narrator's despair.
Key Question
- The narrator specifically asks the raven whether there is a cure for his profound depression.
Desire for Release
- At the story's conclusion, the narrator wishes for the raven to depart and cease its tormenting repetition of "nevermore."
Symbolic Departure
- The raven's eventual leaving symbolizes the narrator's acceptance of loss, indicating a psychological release regarding Lenore.
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Description
Test your understanding of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' through detailed flashcards. Explore the setting, point of view, and internal conflicts faced by the narrator. This quiz will challenge your comprehension and analytical skills regarding one of Poe's most famous works.