Author: Edgar Allen Poe
Title: The Raven
Illustrator:
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Year: First published 1845
Genre: Poetry
Format: Audiobook
Reading Level: Independent reader
Interest level: Middle school, high school
Topics: dark, raver, love, man, night
Summary: A man overcome with despair after loosing his love, Lenore, sits late at night reading when he hears rapping at the door. He gets up to find nothing on the other side. When he sits back down he hears a louder rapping at his window. He goes to open it and a dark raven flies into the room and rests on a bust. He begins to ask it questions to which the only reply he gets is "nevermore." He then calls the raven a thing of evil and demands it to leave while the only response he gets is "nevermore." The raven remains on the bust while the man's "soul shall be lifted - nevermore."
Extension Activity: Discuss the the hidden meanings in this poem and what symbolism is used. What mental states does the main character go through? What prompts these changes? Why does he keep asking the raven questions when he knows the answer is always going to be "nevermore"? What do the main character's questions reveal about him?
