The Raven: Ethos And Pathos

Poe’s original focus for this poem was meant for a smaller, more educated audience as his use in language, rhythm, and structure were very complex, but as time went on this poem appealed to everyone under the sun. This writing was unlike any of his others as they usually left it up for interpretation. This poem straight-up tells you what is happening through the language. As for the general rhythm of the poem it was unlike any of his other works due to it having a rhythm, like the sonnets of Shakespeare, this puts a more emotional connection between the story and the reader as it keeps them invested. This poem can be read as a story or a song as its rhythm is so good it can be interpreted either way changing the experience of the reader. The best case that can be seen for structure is Poe’s use of repetition and alliteration to induce a more creepy, hypnotic tone. The repetition of the saying 'Nevermore.” adds to the story by adding a sense of intensity every time the word is read. As for alliteration, we have sayings like nodding nearly napping, rare and radiant, doubting dreaming dreams...dared to dream, shorn and shaven, and surcease of sorrow, which only add to the creepiness.

“The Raven” was a very successful poem by Edgar Allan Poe that was inspired throughout his experiences with death from his past. Edgar Allan Poe had lost many dear lost loved ones, and this greatly affected him. Although originally intended for a smaller audience, everyone has an experience with death affecting them differently. It appealed to the masses because of its emotional story on the death of a loved one. The poem's use of language, rhythm, and structure is very complex but makes it an all-time classic to never be forgotten. Poe ends “The Raven” by stating that the young man can worry about his past all he wants, but it inevitably doesn’t matter as worrying about the past won’t change the present. He is telling the man to let go of Lenore and live his life. He can either move on and enjoy life or stay in this miserable state of sadness forever. This sadness set upon his head by the raven is lifted and he can continue his life as a scholar. Edgar Allan Poe wrote a poem called, 'The Raven” in 1845. This poem was written well after he had established himself as an author and is one of his greatest poems for its underlying structure, rhythm, language, and story. It is a story about a young man who had lost his lovely wife “Lenore.” He hears a tapping and suddenly a raven enters through his window and sits upon a bust in his chamber. He begins to question the raven, but the raven only has one response:” Nevermore.” This only infuriates the saddened man and strengthens his loss of Lenore even more and we start to see the man's decline into madness. The real question is why would Edgar Allan Poe write such a work late in his career? Was it to establish himself as a successful author to his audience? Or was it to write a poem that resembled Poe’s past?

At first glance “The Raven” comes off as an ethos-based piece mostly because he was already a successful author, but as soon as you get past the intro, it turns into a pathos-based piece. “The Raven” represented Poe’s emotional past by going into depth on lost loved ones and how this affected the young man. Poe’s childhood was nothing but miserable as he had lost his parents at the age of 6 and was shortly adopted soon after. This had a huge impact on Poe and can be seen throughout his other works. The madness of the young man represents Poe’s madness in real life. The entire story of “The Raven” stems from the fact that he is saddened by the death of his wife. Therefore, making it a pathos-based piece. It is only when the raven enters the picture that it intensifies his sadness towards his dear Lenore. The raven in this case would represent the man’s sorrow as he begins to question his sanity even going as far as to say that the raven was the devil sent from hades to torture him.