Edgar Allan Poe was the master of horror and suspense. As a fan of modern to ancient poetry, I’ve read a lot poems and yet I still go back to Poe. I remember reading him as a nine year old kid and his poems were so imaginative and dark. So my favorite poem is one of the first I’ve ever read and I think that everyone pretty much knows it, “The Raven.” Before I go on about this very great poem I want to share a little bit about Edgar Allan Poe.
Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston in 1809 to actors, he was orphaned as an infant and sent to live with a Richmond merchant named John Allan.
Poe went to the University of Virginia in 1826 but left because of gambling debts. In 1830 his first book of poems was published and he entered West Point but after a year he was dishonorably discharged. His relationship with his adoptive father broke off completely.
In 1836, Poe married his cousin Virginia Clemm who was 13 at the time. She died of consumption in 1847, year before his magazine went bankrupt. In October of 1849, he was found semiconscious outside a polling place in Baltimore. A few days later he was found dead.
Poe did three things in his career he originated the mystery story, brought new depth to the horror genre and made contributions to romantic poetry and literary criticism. So that’s just a little bit about the master of horror and suspense.
“The Raven” to me is one of the best American poems ever written, that’s just my opinion of course. I enjoy it because well here’s part of some verses:
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary.
“Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door-Only this and nothing more.”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore”
These three verses just create haunting thoughts and when a poem can give you visions on what is happening then the poet did his job. Whenever I read it I think of this Gothic setting where this man is sitting in his chair, then this raven keeps upsetting him and basically he goes crazy. At the end his soul is lifted. I also think of the lost Lenore and her “ghost.” A lot to take in for just a poem.
“The Raven” was written in 1845, Poe already was an established poet. His personal life as you read before was depressing and his life didn’t end well. He died and lived in poverty most of his life. So one would think no wonder why his poems are so dark. His poems did fit well in that period though since romanticism was popular. Though in America for the most part he was ignored and if it wasn’t for the French Symbolists, then he would have never got the recognition he has now.
Now about the poem again for one more verse that I think gives the most goosebumps:
And my soul from out that shadow lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted-nevermore!
To me it’s about a guy who is haunted by a lost love named Lenore and well of course is being taunted by a raven. He’s a tortured man by his past and well the ghosts of his past. He’s literally going mad and the raven isn’t helping. So you could say “The Raven” is a ghost story. The poem is unsettling at times. Poe will always be remembered as one of the great American writers and he should be. Not just for “The Raven” or his poems because of his short stories too.
Okay before I end, there are three things to me that relate to “The Raven.” First in a tree-house of horror skit on the Simpsons they showcase “The Raven” in one of their stories, second if there are any wrestling fans you may remember Raven who would end with the words, “Quote the Raven Nevermore” and last but not least the black comedy that starred Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and a young Jack Nicholson. By the way that’s a great film.
So “The Raven” is a great poem and my favorite-nevermore.
Source:
“The Tell-Tale Heart and other Writings by Edgar Allan Poe.” Bantam Classic.
