How Is Alliteration Used In The Raven

Not only is The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous poem, it is also the greatest poem in English literature. Throughout The Raven, the narrator’s mental state deteriorates, as he is turned from a sad and slightly nervous man into a shuddering wreck; this makes for a strong and haunting atmosphere. Poe’s crucial word choice captivates his audience; he uses symbolism, sound devices and imagery to create a poem in which the reader is immersed in a scene that is both eerie and chilling.

To begin, symbolism is present throughout The Raven, it is used to bring haunting images to the mind of the reader and to create a deeper meaning than the literal words could convey. Lenore represents a flawless woman, the narrator sees her as an ideal, in

his eyes she is unspoiled. For the narrator, Lenore’s presence is everywhere: “And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore”? / This I whispered, an echo murmured the word, “Lenore”’ (Poe 28-29). The man thinks he hears her name and then he realizes that it is only his own echo, he is obsessed with Lenore. Throughout the poem, love and sadness are inseparable. To continue, the raven is another important symbol, the raven represents evil, death and loneliness, he is a symbol of loss. The narrator is saddened by the death of his beloved Lenore: “And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor / Shall be lifted—nevermore!” (107-108). Here, the narrator is accepting the permanent shadow that has been left by the raven, he will be forever miserable and this bird of evil and death will always be with him. Furthermore, the night represents darkness and makes the atmosphere mysterious and dangerous. There are several references to night and darkness including: “Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" (98). In this quote, Plutonian is referenced, he is the god of the underworld in Roman mythology, this is saying that it is a night from Hell. Therefore, rather than using direct statements that limit the reactions from readers, symbolism is used to evoke strong feelings while creating a chilling scene.

Moreover, sound devices are used throughout The Raven making the reader more aware of Poe’s word choice, thus paying more attention to the changing atmosphere.

Alliterations, which are a pair of identical or similar constants, are frequently seen throughout the poem. An example of an alliteration in The Raven is: “For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—“ (11). The alliteration here is with the words rare and radiant, this sound device engages the person’s auditory senses, making the reader more attentive to detail. To continue, rhyming is seen in great quantity in this poem, by having internal rhymes, The Raven has a good metre. An example of rhyming is: “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary”. The words weary and dreary rhyme; rhyming gives the poem a subtle repetitive quality and allows the reader to remember the words more easily. As well, repetition is a key component in The Raven, it is what transforms the narrator. The most prominent repetition in this poem is "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore" (48). The first time “nevermore” is said the man doesn’t think much of it and then as it is repeated it slowly turns into a horrifying prophecy. In conclusion, through the use of sound devices, The Raven has a good rhythm and beat as well, the haunting atmosphere becomes more

prominent.

Furthermore, the imagery is the driving force behind setting the atmosphere of the play, the descriptive language paints a chilling picture for the reader.

The use of vivid adjectives makes the poem haunting and thrilling. An example of descriptive language is: “And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain / Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before” (13-14). This passage shows that the narrator has been thrilled by the terrors; words like “uncertain rustling” set the eerie atmosphere. To continue, there are many examples of personification in The Raven, this means that human characteristics are being applied to inanimate objects. An example of this is: “And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor” (8). By applying human traits to the ember, this enhances the haunting atmosphere, since the reader is able to more easily connect. As well, through word choice, Poe is able to create scenes that are scarier and simpler to understand. Here, the connection between the raven and evil is seen: “And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, / And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor” (105-106). In this quote, the raven is haunting the narrator; it shows the demonic nature of the bird. The quote also shows the madness of both characters and narrator is superstitious of the word “nevermore”. Therefore, the use of descriptive language, that is imagery, has a huge impact on the scary

atmosphere throughout The Raven.

Through carefully chosen words, Poe uses symbolism, sound devices and imagery to create his masterpiece, The Raven. Without these key concepts, the mental deterioration of the character and the demonic nature of the bird would not have been apparent. Each literary tool uniquely contributes to The Raven, and adds to the overall haunting atmosphere that exists throughout the poem.