Death and Spirituality in "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

Essai , 2018 , 8 Pages , Note: A

Philologie Américaine - Littérature

The paper deals with the topic of of spirituality in Edgar Allan Poe's poem “The Raven”.

A poem such as “The Raven”, especially due to its great resonance, would be a shame to be limited and diminished to apply just to the life of the writer. A poem is a piece that once created is free to alternate through time and maintain its vitality. Unconsciously though everyone is affected by experience and it is inevitable not to be influenced by it. It is possible that death affected Poe in a higher degree than others but on the other hand death and life after it has always been an alluring subject since it is indeed the most mysterious event of life so far. The supernatural element implies an unknown world, one all people fear and also hope for and it is what makes the poem so enthralling to the audience and what made “The Raven” one of the most popular poems ever.

Table of Contents

• Criticism in Literature
• Historic and Biographical elements
• THE RAVEN BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
• Form and structure
• Process of writing - “The Philosophy of Composition” 1846
• THE TREATMENT OF DEATH AND SPIRITUALITY IN THE RAVEN

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay examines the themes of death and spirituality in Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," exploring its historical and biographical context as well as the poem's unique form and structure. The essay also analyzes the poem's emotional impact and its exploration of the human response to loss.

• The impact of death on Poe's life and work
• The poem's exploration of the spiritual world
• The role of form and structure in creating the poem's unique atmosphere
• The emotional impact of the poem on the reader
• The poem's exploration of the human response to grief and loss

Chapter Summaries

The essay begins by introducing the concept of literary criticism and exploring various critical approaches to analyzing literary works, such as formalist, historical, psychological, sociological, and biographical criticism. It then provides a brief biographical overview of Edgar Allan Poe, highlighting the significant impact of death on his life and how these experiences may have influenced his writing.

The essay then delves into a detailed analysis of "The Raven," exploring its structure, form, and language. It discusses the poem's unique rhyming scheme, its internal rhythm, and the use of repetition to create a sense of tension and suspense. The essay also explores the poem's use of imagery and symbolism to evoke the themes of death, grief, and the spiritual world.

Finally, the essay analyzes the treatment of death and spirituality within "The Raven," examining how the poem explores the human response to loss, the fear of the unknown, and the search for meaning in the face of mortality.

Keywords

This essay explores the key themes of death, spirituality, loss, grief, form, structure, rhythm, imagery, symbolism, and the biographical and historical influences on Edgar Allan Poe's work. The essay specifically focuses on "The Raven" as a case study to analyze these themes and concepts.

• Note: A
• Auteur: Elena Agathokleous (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2018
• Pages: 8
• N° de catalogue: V995907
• ISBN (ebook): 9783346366801
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: death, spirituality, raven, edgar, allan