Stanza One

Shelley establishes an atmosphere of winter within the opening stanza, by

His use of prepositions (“And”, “With”) and spacial references (“all around”) has a chilling effect, with it reflecting the passage of time. This, along with the auditory effect created by Shelley’s use of assonance and the inconsistent rhyme scheme within the stanza creates a tone of sadness about the poem.

The symbols of death, include the allegorical figure of grief.

Stanza Two

This stanza has a repeated verb structure, past perfect in the passive voice. This has

Lots of monosyllabic words present symbols and employs alliteration; the effect of this is & the sound created by this

The imagery of interconnectedness between life and death, is reminiscent of Juliet's potion speech. This intertwining of life and death is somewhat disturbing, while attempting to establish a comforting aura within the poem - due to Shelley trying to emphasize the lack of life, in the season/ being witnessed by the speakefr

The extensive personification of the poem, suggests how things feel as though are falling apart, from the lack of hope - his description of the plant's roots taking over “beside the pathway track”, which could suggest the speaker following this path → cracked, desolate path & landscape within cold weather, could be symbolic of his guilt (contextually Harriet’s death, & the issues with custody over their children causing distress to his children)

Stanza Three

Different versions of the poem interchange ‘Raven' with the word ‘tangled' - suggests the original poem, has been changed and altered by Mary Shelley, after Percy's death & prior to the posthumous publication of his poetry.

Stanza Four

Internal rhyme, with monosyllabic words and diction - creates an eerily calm effect (acceptance)

The final line has an elegic tone, suggesting the speaker sharing a final moment with the corpse before its ‘gone'

How is death presented in the Poem?

Within the poem, Shelley presents death as being part of the sudden, yet natural ending - encompassing the Romantic movement through the concept of love after death & how life continues to go on. The depiction of death in the poem, is initially established through Shelley's use of spacial references and prepositions “And”, “With”, “Above”, at the beginning of lines in the first stanza - which has a chilling effect, establishing a cold tone for the theme of the poem. Along with the extensive personification of natural imagery, throughout the thirds stanza, suggests a lack of hope because of how things feel as though they're falling apart - straying from a grand Romantic vision Shelley may have had. This is notable through his description of the plant's roots taking over “beside the pathway track”, which suggests the speakers wishes to follow this path. However, the cracked desolate landscape and “wintry” atmosphere within the poem, could be symbolic of his guilt, linking to the death of his ex-wife Harriet Westbrook by drowning in the Serpentine, and the custody battle which followed and how it brought distress to his & Harriet’s children and all those around him.

Form, Structure and Rhyme

No consistent rhyme scheme, but discernable pattern which creates cohesion

4, 6 line stanzas = sextains

4 Stanzas, symbolic of the stages of life/ the seasons - childhood, adulthood, old age and death