"The Raven" Study Guide - Edgar Allan Poe

Comprehensive vocabulary and key literary terms covering Gothic elements, poetic devices, mythological allusions, and character details from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven."

Alliteration

Repeating the same starting consonant sound in words close together.

Allusion

A quick reference to a famous myth, god, historical place, or famous figure.

Surcease

An end, stopping, or relief from something painful or uncomfortable.

Pallas Athena

The ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and art.

Plutonian Shore

The dark underworld/afterlife in Roman mythology (ruled by Pluto).

Lore

Old knowledge, stories, or traditional wisdom written in old books.

Ominous Tone

A dark, mysterious feeling that gives a clue something bad or scary is coming.

Unreliable Narrator

A narrator whose thoughts cannot be fully trusted; in "The Raven," the speaker suffers from extreme grief, exhaustion, and a descent into madness.

Atmosphere of Mystery & Suspense

A Gothic element created by the midnight setting in dark December and tapping sounds at the door and window that build fear and unknown danger.

Supernatural Occurrence (in "The Raven")

A Gothic element where a raven enters the room, perches on a Greek bust, understands human speech, and repeatedly answers "Nevermore".

Macabre

Disturbing thoughts of death, sorrow, and terrifying fiery eyes burning into the narrator's chest.

Entrapment (in "The Raven")

A Gothic element where the narrator feels spiritually trapped inside the raven's dark shadow on the floor, lifted "nevermore".

The Devil / Evil (in "The Raven")

A Gothic concept represented when the narrator views the bird as a demonic prophet ("thing of evil") sent from the dark underworld.

Lenore

The speaker's deceased love over whom he suffers extreme grief and sorrow.

Bust of Pallas

A statue of Athena (the goddess of wisdom) above the chamber door; the raven perching on it suggests the bird possesses an eerie, otherworldly wisdom.

"Nevermore"

The single repeated word spoken by the raven, which the speaker gradually interprets as a curse regarding his hopeless future.

"Balm in Gilead"

A reference to healing and relief from sorrow that the speaker desperately asks the raven about.

Aidenn

Heaven; the afterlife where the speaker asks the raven if he will ever be reunited with Lenore.