Quotes from work
The Raven

Edgar Allan Poe

"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow fall into madness. The lover, often identified as a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven seems to further distress the protagonist with its constant repetition of the word "Nevermore". The poem makes use of folk, mythological, religious, and classical references.

“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Stanza 17.
The Raven (1844)

“"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore.”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 11.
The Raven (1844)

“Perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door,—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 7.
The Raven (1844)

“Sorrow for the lost Lenore —
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore —
Nameless here for evermore.”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 2.
The Raven (1844)

“"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! — prophet still, if bird or devil!"”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 15.
The Raven (1844)

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 5.
The Raven (1844)

“Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 2.
The Raven (1844)

“And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me — filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before.”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 3.
The Raven (1844)

“"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! — quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 17.
The Raven (1844)

“Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore —
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Stanza 8.
The Raven (1844)

“And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door.”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 18.
The Raven (1844)

“And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted — nevermore!”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 18.
The Raven (1844)

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,”

Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

Stanza 1.
The Raven (1844)
Context: Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.