Name Key
Date
Hour
Edgar Allan Poe
English 11
The poems “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee” derive their powerful effect and establish their
moods, or atmospheres, from Poe’s deliberate use of certain words for certain effects. Good
poets use the following techniques to increase the impact of their poems:
Alliteration:
Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words
Allusion:
Reference to a historical or literary person, place, or event with
which the reader is assumed to be familiar
Assonance:
Repetition of vowel sounds within words
Consonance:
Repetition of consonant sounds within and at the ends of words
End rhyme:
Words that rhyme at the ends of lines
Internal rhyme:
Words that rhyme within lines
Onomotopoeia:
Use of words that imitate sounds
Rhyme scheme:
A pattern of rhyme, such as abcabcbb
Words to establish
mood:
Using certain words that elicit specific feelings to create
a mood
Directions: Re-read “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee.” Find two examples of each
of the techniques listed below. R=The Raven and A=Annabel Lee
Technique
Examples These are samples; answers may vary
1. Allusion
a. R l.41 & 103 Pallas, l. 47 Plutonian, l. 89 Gilead, l. 93 Aidenn,
R l. 82 nepenthe, l. 866 Tempter
b. A l. 11 seraphs; l. 21 angels, l. 31 demons
2. Alliteration
a. R l.1 weak and weary, l. 3 nodded nearly napping l. 77 velvet violet
b. A l. 41 sounding sea; l. 21 half so happy in heaven
Name Key
3. Consonance
Date
Hour
a. R l. 10 surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Lenore; l. 13 silken, sad,
uncertain rustling, l. 71 grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous
b. A l. 31 demons down under; l. 32 dissever my soul from the soul
4. Assonance
a. R l. 11 rare and radiant maiden; l. 46 ghastly, grim and ancient Raven
wandering; l. 38 stately Raven saintly days
b. A . 21 half so happy, l. 38 night tide, I lie down by the side, l. 39 life
and my bride, l. 36 rise, but I feel the bright eyes
5. Onomotopoeia
a. R l. 3 tapping, l. 4 rapping, l. 72 croaking, l. 80 tinkled, l. 28 whispered,
l. 29 murmured
b. l. 15 blew
6. End rhyme
a. R six line stanzas in which lines 2, 4, 5, and 6 end with “ore” sound;
b. A every other line ends in “ee” sound.
7. Internal rhyme
a. Rl. 1 dreary/weary; l. 3 napping/tapping; l. 9 morrow/borrow, etc.
b. A l. 34 beams/dreams; l. 36 rise/eyes; l. 38 tide/side
Directions: Answer the following questions regarding “The Raven.”
1. What is the main symbol in this poem?
Name Key
Date
Hour
the Raven
2. Why is this symbol used?
The raven was a bird of prophecy to the ancient Greeks, which explains why he asks it if he’ll
ever see Lenore again. The raven is associated with mystery, evil and death in Western culture,
so that explains why it drives him crazy and is appropriate since he is mourning the death of
Lenore.
3. What does its intrusion represent?
Its intrusion represents the grip the speaker’s grief has on him – that it has interrupted his life and
leaves him unable to think about anything else.
4. Why won’t it leave?
It won’t leave because he hasn’t gotten over Lenore’s death.
5. What does its continuing presence signify for the speaker’s life?
The continuing presence shows how the speaker is driven mad with grief and is unable to get
over Lenore’s death.