College Prep Poetry #6
Narrative Poem
“The Raven” – pg. 940
 Complete questions 1-6
1. I feel that the poem’s speaker is just imagining the bird’s actuality because of the
recent death of his Lenore.
2. A: Lenore was the speaker’s love, and she has passed away. B: You can infer that the
speaker was very close with Lenore because he said she was a “rare and radiant
maiden”.
3. A: The speaker uses the words weak and weary to describe his mood at the beginning
of the poem. B: I would use the words disturbed and distraught. C: The raven tapping
at the window above his door has caused the speaker’s mood to change.
4. A: The raven only ever says “Nevermore”. B: I think the raven is just a repeating
sound in the speaker’s imagination.
5. A: As the poem progresses the raven scares me more and makes me more aware of
the instability of the speaker. B: The speaker’s questions and responses to the raven
cause my impression to change.
6. If Poe had used a parrot, the poem would not have been as effective because ravens
are seen as disgusting, dirty, evil birds that like to harm and hurt crops and people.
 List at least 3 poetic devices found in the poem (Name the literary device and list the
example from the poem.) EX: Simile – “And the river flows like a stream of glass” - Line 4
(from “Sympathy”)
1. Personification- “Quoth the raven, ‘Nevermore.’”- Line 48
2. Repetition- “As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.”- Line 4
3. Diction- “Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore-“ Line
47
 Rate the poem on the following scale accompanied by a 1-3 sentence specific explanation for
the rating. I like this poem because Poe’s writings never cease to amaze me! I think that all of
his works are amazing and deserve to be read by students. I enjoy The Raven because of the
gloomy point of view and the speaker’s loss of mind.
Approval Rating Scale:
Liked it!
It was ok.
UGH! Did not like it!
Label this page: Raven
Home Work Activity: Paraphrase the poem “The Raven” stanza by stanza.
OR
Find a song that illustrates the theme, mood, and situation of “The Raven.” Explain the
connections you see between the song and the poem, and include a copy of the lyrics.
OR
Find a piece of art work that illustrates the theme, mood, or situation of “The Raven.” Explain
the connections you see between the art work and the poem, and include a copy of the art work
or at least the title of the work and the artist’s name