Symbolism In The Raven By Edgar Allen Poe

Many times in various works of literature, a person can see examples of symbolism. These symbols typically are used to communicate an idea to the reader without directly stating what that idea is. Also, the symbols add a hidden meaning to the story that goes beyond the typical definition of the word being used as the symbol. This is a tool that many writers use to add depth to their stories and intrigue the reader. Edgar Allen Poe uses symbolism many times throughout his poetry. In the poem, The Raven, a person can see the symbolism when he speaks of Lenore, the raven that visits him, and Night’s Plutonian shore. In this poem, a person can see that the name Lenore appears several times. This is one of the very first examples of symbolism seen in The Raven. Not many details are given as to who the narrator is speaking of when the name is used. However, a person can assume that it was someone very close to the narrator that has passed (Lorcher). Line 10 of the poem shows the emotion the narrator is feeling over the loss of Lenore, “From my books surcease of sorrow-sorrow for the lost Lenore” (Baym, 688). In line 11 of the poem, the …show more content…
The raven is a symbol which appears repeatedly throughout the majority of this poem; it is a symbol of darkness and death. This is seen clearly in line 85, “…thing of evil!-prophet still, if bird or devil!”, and again in 105, “And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon that is dreaming” (Baym, 690-691). The narrator also seems to be controlled by the raven. This can be seen in line 40 “But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door”, and again in line 47 “Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!” (689). The fact that the narrator refers to the raven as lord shows that the raven holds dominion over the narrator (Lorcher). The symbol of the raven helps to show the sense of evil and darkness that dominates the