The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe | Summary & Analysis

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
  • Summarize videos instantly with our Course Assistant plugin, and enjoy AI-generated quizzes: bit.ly/ch-ai-asst Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven explained with chapter summaries in just a few minutes!
    Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, and themes in Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven.
    Download the free study guide and infographic for The Raven here: www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Ra...
    Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" details the descent of its speaker into madness.
    Mourning the loss of his love Lenore, he is visited one night by the inscrutable bird of the title. Suspecting that the raven is a supernatural being, he petitions it for information about Lenore but is only met with replies of "Nevermore." The bird's ominous repetition of the word slowly drives him into fury and despair.
    The richly alliterative verse and internal rhyme of the short story lend it a sing-song musicality at odds with the Gothic literature subject matter, cementing its iconic status in popular culture, where it has been referenced in hundreds of films, songs, and novels.
    Troubled American writer Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven was first published in January 1845. Part of its fame comes from the use of an unnamed narrator, the main character whose grief-stricken mental state over Lenore gradually deteriorates over the course of the poem stanza by stanza.
    The book contains many powerful themes, such as Pallas Athena representing rational thought, Pluto representing the unbridgeable gap between life and death and the profound effects of the loss of a cherished love. Other themes include death, loss, loneliness, nightmare, alienation and the supernatural.
    Explore Course Hero’s collection of free literature study guides, Q&A pairs, and infographics here: www.coursehero.com/lit/
    About Course Hero:
    Course Hero helps empower students and educators to succeed! We’re fueled by a passionate community of students and educators who share their course-specific knowledge and resources to help others learn. Learn more at www.coursehero.com
    Master Your Classes™ with Course Hero!
    Get the latest updates:
    Facebook: / coursehero
    Twitter: / coursehero

Komentáře • 147

  • @christopherpearson8637
    @christopherpearson8637 Před 4 lety +398

    The poem is about the futility of looking for signs in nature. The guy is grieving, his partner died. He clings to anything that might hint to a greater power to the universe. He tries to get some insight from the raven in the same way you'll shake an 8 ball if you don't like the answer, and keep shaking until it tells you something new. The raven is just a raven, squawking it's name, and the man grows more and more frustrated not because he dislikes the raven's answers but because he refuses to accept a chaotic universe, one without symbols or signs.

    • @youngspunky2835
      @youngspunky2835 Před 4 lety +3

      Look the story might be real...Just a coincidence, birds can be very annoying and ravens can copy what they hear so it's not creepy at all tbh.And if it's a poem based on fiction and just sending a message the massage is very good

    • @voltcorp
      @voltcorp Před 3 lety +10

      that's a very particular interpretation. I feel like, while clearly the speaker is unstable, there is no objective message in the poem that there's absolutely nothing paranormal going on. ravens don't speak, after all, name or any other word. so we could just as well interpret the raven as a sign from a greater power telling him that lenore is gone and he should deal with that loss or live in grief forever

    • @Mr.Ahmadashour
      @Mr.Ahmadashour Před 3 lety +1

      great analysis I agree with U

    • @MikobiKeren
      @MikobiKeren Před 3 lety +6

      @toorf hi I’m a Christian and I’m not coming here to bash you. I understand where your coming from and yes God is a person that we go to for everything. We don’t just go to him because our comfort it’s more than that. I human life you can do everything on your own you always need a little help or it doesn’t even have to be that. God is our creator and we owe it to him to give him the glory and share his word. There is a importance behind living for him and not yourself. Yeah you can go to heaven who knows not all Christians go to heaven.

    • @gulnaroguz2510
      @gulnaroguz2510 Před rokem +2

      Yes, the Raven probably doesn't even understand him and just repeats Nevermore. But the speaker interprets it as unwanted answers to his problems.

  • @stephenugochukwu9472
    @stephenugochukwu9472 Před 3 lety +290

    Thank you, sir; I am watching this in 2020 for my English assignment.

  • @gulnaroguz2510
    @gulnaroguz2510 Před rokem +43

    I am watching this for fun. I love Edgar Allan Poe and his gothic and creepy stories. I couldn't quite understand the Raven as it was filled with Old English language, but this video helped me understand how a simple poem can have thousands of different interpretations.
    I love writing, and I wish to write as good as Edgar one day.

    • @notherepim
      @notherepim Před rokem +2

      Me too. I needed to understand some lines that confused me.

  • @enocestrada2244
    @enocestrada2244 Před 4 lety +101

    Thank you so much for this analysis. I was so lost reading this poem and confused in every stanza about what he meant

    • @stevebarghouthi3424
      @stevebarghouthi3424 Před 3 lety +6

      even tho its confusing, once you really break it down, you can see why this is an extremely well written poem and why people went crazy over it.

    • @flamo3961
      @flamo3961 Před 3 lety +2

      It can be hard. I had to define a lot of the older English words. But, once i did, i actually cried. I put myself in his shoes, which isn’t hard to do, because true love is so hard to find, i can only imagine someone like that loving me... and then to lose them...

  • @rubirina3727
    @rubirina3727 Před 4 lety +38

    The connotations of this poem would surely remain outside the door of my comprehension had I not opened my window lattice to this video of yours. Thanks a lot.

  • @millennial8441
    @millennial8441 Před 2 lety +61

    00:11 - Plot
    02:36 - Key characters
    03:47 - Lenore
    04:21 - Central symbols
    06:43 - Pluto
    07:26 - Central themes
    08:41 - Death in the afterlife
    09:25 - Loss and grief
    10:08 - Loss of the past

  • @flamo3961
    @flamo3961 Před 3 lety +20

    I just want to mention... at 0:51-and each time since, that’s the sound of a crow, not a Raven. Ravens have more of a croaking noise, and can imitate human words. Other than this easy to make mistake, i love this video!

  • @larrymcnally1678
    @larrymcnally1678 Před 4 lety +36

    There is a reason that Poe refers to the bust as that of Palas and not Palas-Athena. Although readily accepted as a duality (Palas-Athena) Myth states them as look alike but separate childhood mates. All ened ill for Palas when a sparring accident of Athena killed her. Palas was human.

  • @batyakatayev5229
    @batyakatayev5229 Před 5 lety +23

    this really helped thank you!

  • @jolenehendrickson8915
    @jolenehendrickson8915 Před 2 lety

    my dad was a English and American lit. teacher and he would recite parts of Poe's poems so this helps understanding better. Thank you!

  • @p.8302
    @p.8302 Před 4 lety +4

    This was very helpful. Thanks so much for the upload.

  • @avivastudios2311
    @avivastudios2311 Před rokem +1

    This is very good work. And the images were lovely.
    This is one of the best poems ever written. The flow the words. So much to disesct.

  • @alaanajeeb1611
    @alaanajeeb1611 Před rokem

    Perfect!! I love this presentation. Full of information; yet, very engaging and interesting!

  • @imairistejada7486
    @imairistejada7486 Před 2 lety

    You are so amazing! thank you for helping me understand and actually enjoy the poem and doing my assignmets.

  • @raquelmoya3575
    @raquelmoya3575 Před 3 lety

    Thanks so much for the analysis! It really helped!

  • @tugba520
    @tugba520 Před rokem +1

    I have to write an essay about the poem and this video helped me a lot to understand the poem. thank u for explaining the poem perfectly

  • @bankrolliediamonds3320
    @bankrolliediamonds3320 Před 2 lety +2

    This is such good analyzing! I suggest to those watching, watch, “Edgar Allan Poe’s THE RAVEN” on youtube then watch this, trust me you’ll have a very clear understanding.

  • @storytime_with_auntiek
    @storytime_with_auntiek Před 3 lety +9

    Has anyone else considered that Lenora could be the narrator’s daughter?
    I’ve heard many people call her his lover or imply they were in a relationship but the word “maiden” pertains to an unmarried girl, a virgin. It takes a very close loved one to make a man so overcome by grief that it would lead his to madness and death

    • @feelthemusic7871
      @feelthemusic7871 Před 2 lety +1

      That could be the case. But judging from your comment, people in a relationship, or lovers aren't close? You must've never cared for anyone.

    • @brokenseal4175
      @brokenseal4175 Před rokem

      Yup. I think so too

    • @3DInnovations70
      @3DInnovations70 Před 10 měsíci

      Who’s the mom then

  • @morvaridhamidi7021
    @morvaridhamidi7021 Před rokem +1

    well-done I can't describe how much I enjoyed it

  • @MaryWild
    @MaryWild Před 3 lety +1

    Love your analysis!

  • @creativeclaire_16
    @creativeclaire_16 Před 4 lety +22

    Watching this for a common assessment in English 1 tm. Thanks for this short video,it helps!

  • @raiffarosso3393
    @raiffarosso3393 Před 3 lety +1

    thank you so much!! It helped me a lot! well done :)

  • @noorsherif7309
    @noorsherif7309 Před 4 lety +2

    Thanks this is amazing!

  • @cool-ge9iv
    @cool-ge9iv Před 4 lety +4

    Awesome, thank you

  • @subhashhole3747
    @subhashhole3747 Před 3 lety +1

    Fantastic explanation sir, thank you very much.👍👍👍🙏🙏

  • @daleangeliquejamero2983

    Thank you for this video. Thi is so helpful for my assignment. 💖

  • @saskoilersfan
    @saskoilersfan Před 2 lety +7

    Why is a raven like a writing desk ?
    Raven has caws for thought.
    Desk has cause for thought.
    Poe wrote on both.

  • @tolusaiki5578
    @tolusaiki5578 Před 4 lety +1

    Thank you, very helpful

  • @ailaranta2606
    @ailaranta2606 Před 9 měsíci +1

    There is no other word like nevermore that can express the vacuous terror, when we realize we shall never again meet someone we loved.

  • @neeshalprasad5851
    @neeshalprasad5851 Před 2 lety

    Thanks for this analysis, it helped me alot:)

  • @nejmahshatat2906
    @nejmahshatat2906 Před 3 lety

    Thank you. It's very helpful

  • @radar4
    @radar4 Před 11 měsíci

    this is helping me with an essay i have to write , thank you so much !

  • @michaelgalan70
    @michaelgalan70 Před rokem

    I'm doing apart of my Extended Essay for the IB program and upon reading it I really felt like Poe was trying to reveal the duality that of human nature, seeing as how both light and the darkness are constant contrasts made within the poem. Like the man in the poem was conversating with himself- the side of him that has embraced the darkness of the situation, but he simply will not confirm to such a standard.

  • @kakarroto007
    @kakarroto007 Před 3 lety +38

    So wait, Poe was even mixing ancient mythologies? The Roman god Pluto (Plutonium shores) and the Greek goddess Athena (Pallas Athena)? Interesting! Duality is everywhere in this poem.

    • @carterarandomguy9290
      @carterarandomguy9290 Před 3 lety +11

      They are extremely similar mythologies though, since the romans copied a lot of greek mythology.

    • @xrt7nv697
      @xrt7nv697 Před 3 lety +5

      @@carterarandomguy9290 they literally took the whole mythology and just added some stuff

  • @mystic_tacos
    @mystic_tacos Před rokem +2

    All one must do is read almost any of Poe's works enough times, and you will begin to understand what is happening in the background. I am 47 years old, and I've been reading his works since I was 14, I've only had to turn to a breakdown of one of his poems in all this time, The Conqueror Worm. Sometimes I wonder if that is just because it is just so long.

  • @monimonisha4763
    @monimonisha4763 Před 3 lety +2

    Tq so much sir😍😍😍 I'm from Tamil Nadu. Actually i want to see ur videos for 2 reason. First is way of teaching i had influenced and Second one is way of speaking eng . Tq so much sir ur videos more helpful for us 😍🤗

  • @OmarMohamed-ck7wr
    @OmarMohamed-ck7wr Před 2 lety

    Omg!! This helped so much Thank you :)

  • @NicolasPrince-lv5nv
    @NicolasPrince-lv5nv Před rokem

    Thank you we need this

  • @jebidiahnewkedkracker1025

    I can now see how this poem is considered literary genius-- it starts out on a note of neutrality, then a just a PINCH of lightheartedness/humor, then plunges the readers into the "dark side" with ever increasing notes notes of depression, anger, fear and madness, or what could be called too, a loss of BALANCE.
    There is NO doubt E.A.P. had A LOT on his mind, and thoughts have "weight" of a sort. There IS, I detect, a DANGER in really getting to know such a poem and/or identifying with it....A Danger of joining Mr. Poe on "Pluto's shores" The Twilight Zone, or just plain HELL, generally NOT a good idea to be knocking on Mr. Poe's door....Unless you're VERY CONFIDENT as your status a "RAVEN".😶😐😶😐

  • @randocalrissian7573
    @randocalrissian7573 Před 3 lety +6

    I'm just trying to understand this after randomly remembering the Simpsons first Treehouse of Horror episode that featured it, I recommend it to anyone wanting ANOTHER view on the story because seeing Homer depicted as the speaker is interesting (its season 2 episode 3 @ 16:01 btw)

  • @Yandross
    @Yandross Před rokem +1

    Excellent!

  • @AbdullahZYB
    @AbdullahZYB Před 3 lety

    Awesome explained 👌🏻👌🏻✌🏻👍🏼

  • @soninoscardelletti2844
    @soninoscardelletti2844 Před 2 měsíci

    FANTASTIC! GOD BLESS

  • @notyourgirl5352
    @notyourgirl5352 Před 8 měsíci

    I love this Chanel… great animation

  • @Bellywellywoo
    @Bellywellywoo Před 3 lety

    watching this for my eng-102 class thank u

  • @rexchavez3059
    @rexchavez3059 Před 4 měsíci

    I'm more captivated by the poethic rhyme in all of the 18 stanzas. But thanks for the effort of this copyreader in translating Edgar Allan Poe's poem into plain English.

  • @warningsigns4526
    @warningsigns4526 Před 4 lety +7

    this is connected to the 2020 final Raven game in Baltimore City - death and agony

  • @kawalsandhu1438
    @kawalsandhu1438 Před rokem

    Excellent explanation....

  • @MoonyFBM
    @MoonyFBM Před 2 lety

    Damn this is a good analysis, thank you so much sir

  • @FairwayJack
    @FairwayJack Před 4 lety +1

    good analysis

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner Před 4 lety

    Fantastic

  • @tonyhe4288
    @tonyhe4288 Před 2 lety

    Salut, sir. You saved my day!

  • @cirocasarin
    @cirocasarin Před 3 lety

    EXCELLENT work, it was really helpful.
    BTW...the music?

  • @Minayuna
    @Minayuna Před 3 lety

    Marvelous.

  • @Broatch6
    @Broatch6 Před 3 lety

    Wonderful analysis 💋

  • @zinebexo.l8843
    @zinebexo.l8843 Před 2 lety

    Thank you very much that will help me in my exam

  • @ceydavarlioglu5983
    @ceydavarlioglu5983 Před 4 lety

    thank you

  • @Schnitzell7
    @Schnitzell7 Před 5 měsíci

    Thank you sir

  • @jawshtrevizo
    @jawshtrevizo Před měsícem

    I think the door and the lattice symbolize the heart and the mind; the raven can sneak in at any moment you open your heart. It can change your mind on many views even if it goes against logic, perched on Pallas.

  • @marianaconsoli6406
    @marianaconsoli6406 Před rokem

    Hey, loved all the analysis. Is there any further information or the original source where you got the information about the goddess Athena? I need a credited source for my research paper and so far, have not had any luck.

  • @ansmariaxavier2150
    @ansmariaxavier2150 Před 4 lety +1

    Thankq sir

  • @soninoscardelletti2844

    Good Job! God Bless

  • @vipinyadavyadav8236
    @vipinyadavyadav8236 Před 4 lety

    Nice

  • @lirianorga7521
    @lirianorga7521 Před 4 lety +13

    It's scary but a different way, like depression, madness and grief.

  • @bunnyboops8875
    @bunnyboops8875 Před 3 lety +3

    It's a dude. Yelling at a bird. This poem gives me endless amusement.

  • @johnnykuizon5291
    @johnnykuizon5291 Před 4 lety +2

    very helpful because our examination is tomorrow. thankyouu so much

  • @heuno8487
    @heuno8487 Před 3 lety +1

    Its currently 1:18 am right now and i have a grouping task on summarizing this later at 9 am HAHAHAHA

  • @kathyagarcia2677
    @kathyagarcia2677 Před 2 lety

    Also worth mentioning is that there is a myth about Athena and a raven. In the myth, the raven was white, but it bore bad news or it lied (myths often vary) and something tragic happened. so she punished him by turning him black. T

  • @maherkisso3796
    @maherkisso3796 Před 2 lety

    hello i have a question please is the theme is implicit or explicit ? thanks

  • @ryleec3460
    @ryleec3460 Před 2 lety

    me chillin with this assignment due tomorrow in my room at 1 am

  • @jean3517
    @jean3517 Před rokem

    Watching for for English class lol hope i do well on the quiz

  • @reginadelgraal
    @reginadelgraal Před 3 lety +1

    Often the appearance of a raven is linked to Halloween time,
    meaning a death-realm is near, but often it's only a warning
    about some old aspect of us has to die, to leave place to something new and better:
    czcams.com/video/fOG-N5ru8Lg/video.html

  • @legpic_yt4460
    @legpic_yt4460 Před 2 lety

    just to clarify in Pluto he means Greek god of the underworld not roman

  • @johnmichaelmagadia6896

    raven is a death itself and athena is a battle of love when you are alive then raven on top of athena is you must fight for your love until his death or before she is gone raven itself symbols that you must accept why your love leave after life death you accept it that it is been necesity then don't even blame and curse yourself despair vs hope death vs acceptance. that is my analysis

  • @MrEmberious45z
    @MrEmberious45z Před 2 lety

    cool

  • @scottbenoit7257
    @scottbenoit7257 Před rokem

    Ravens talk wow

  • @kimkimlasco9593
    @kimkimlasco9593 Před 2 lety

    How would you describe the ending of the poem?

  • @williamdon3442
    @williamdon3442 Před 2 lety

    Now I understand why this was used in the crow

  • @kien-yeinmylis-pierretsala4924

    Thanks sir I'm watching this in 2024

  • @keshavraj8668
    @keshavraj8668 Před 2 lety

    How many times the word occurs Nevermore.

  • @magicalrocker3853
    @magicalrocker3853 Před rokem

    I'm here before my poetry exam

  • @burntjelly4536
    @burntjelly4536 Před 2 lety

    Raven just being a menace for fun

  • @feelthemusic7871
    @feelthemusic7871 Před 2 lety

    But did Lenore die? Or was she just not with him anymore?

  • @ssake1_IAL_Research
    @ssake1_IAL_Research Před 2 lety

    Edgar Allan Poe never wrote "The Raven," he merely claimed it in a kind of 19th-century "identity theft." The poem's premiere was submitted anonymously to "American Review" under the pseudonym "---- Quarles" by the true author, Mathew Franklin Whittier, younger brother of poet John Greenleaf Whittier. Poe, a literary critic for the New York "Evening Mirror," finding the poem in an advance copy of "American Review," scooped Mathew in his own paper by two days. Mathew had shared a copy of "The Raven" with Poe in early 1842, so Poe had a handwritten copy in his possession. This enabled him to convince his editor that he had permission to scoop "American Review"--but he mysteriously left the "Mirror" shortly afterwards (suggesting that he may have been fired for lying about it). It is the height of absurdity that the editor of a newly-launched monthly literary magazine like the "Review," would have given a daily newspaper this permission. The real author was not in a position to reveal his identity because of his anti-slavery work and connection with the Underground Railroad, and hence could not publicly defend himself. My paper, "Evidence that Edgar Allan Poe Stole 'The Raven' from Mathew Franklin Whittier," can be downloaded from the following link, or it can be read by searching for the paper's title in Academia.edu.
    www.ial.goldthread.com/MFW_The_Raven.pdf

    • @MoonyFBM
      @MoonyFBM Před 2 lety

      Can you link any other sources than your own research?

    • @3DInnovations70
      @3DInnovations70 Před 10 měsíci

      @@MoonyFBMlmao

  • @howardglover8109
    @howardglover8109 Před 2 lety

    Did he kill Lenore? And he knows he killed Lenore and he's just trying to lie to himself saying he didn't and the nevermore means nevermore which was probably her last words?

  • @shashankshrivastava3590

    Poet: let me just describe the color of the door: the door is red
    Teacher: the color of the door (red) symbolises the grief and anger of the poet.
    Poet: it just means the door is red

    • @3DInnovations70
      @3DInnovations70 Před 10 měsíci +1

      All details in Poes writing means something

  • @cjvaye99
    @cjvaye99 Před 2 lety

    I don't get it

  • @jesussolis8895
    @jesussolis8895 Před 3 lety

    doesnt the yelling sound like Anakin when he was turning into vader in the hospital bed??

  • @storsoldatapemann6594
    @storsoldatapemann6594 Před 3 lety +1

    that's a well made Corinthian helmet.

  • @zig9418
    @zig9418 Před 3 lety

    :)

  • @harperr1123
    @harperr1123 Před 3 lety +1

    amog us

  • @mightytaco123
    @mightytaco123 Před rokem

    Ravens can talk like parrots can which is cool lol.

  • @kariporter2975
    @kariporter2975 Před rokem

    He just meant that if she didn't want to get physical, then she would nevermore get "it that way". And if she didn't want a husband, she could have as many as she wanted or none at all, and nevermore would she be forced to marry idiots. And if she didn't want to give physical birth to an ACTUAL HUMAN BABY, then she would nevermore get that chance. And she cried tears of "🥱 OK FINE IM PRETTY TIRED RIGHT NOW..."
    😘 THIS IS HOW I 😴 AND HETFIELD TAUGHT ME THAT

  • @jonfischer111
    @jonfischer111 Před 2 měsíci

    Using this to impress a girl

  • @rhea7923
    @rhea7923 Před rokem

    thank you