Summary of Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was born on 19 January 1809 in Boston. Poe has
never known his family, even his mother left him when he was only three
years old. Since he was a kid he lived with John and Frances Allan, which
is a successful tobacco merchant with his wife, in Virginia. Poe was never
in a deep friendship bond with anybody, since he prefers poetry over
other things, and is really dedicated to it. Sometimes, Poe had written
poems on the back of Allans tobacco business paper. Living there, Poe
met Elmira Royster which becomes his fiance. Poe went to a University in
Virginia in 1826, which he was able to because it was funded by the
Allans. But during his study, the Allans could not fund him anymore, and
he began to be stress. He even have to face his fiance Elmira engaged
with someone else. Eventually he decided to leave the Allans, and began
his career in literature.
After he published his first book Tamerland and Other Poems in
1827, he joined the military and goes to West Point military academy. But
soon enough, he was kicked out because he cant handle his duty, and
would later live with his Aunt in Baltimore. Poe fell in love with Maria
Clemm, his young cousin which was only about 13 or 14 years that time.
Around that time, Poe also started to work with magazine company. But
Poe would soon be kicked out again because of his style of writing which
was considered aggressive, and offending, which the magazine company
feared it would offend other rivaling magazine company.
Poe would soon start on his literature again, where in 1830, he
wrote Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque which is a collection of
stories and tales. He also won a prize in 1843 because of his book that
features a type of story which was Indiana Jones hunting treasures and
secret codes kind of stories, The Gold Bug. But still, Poe was known
because of his work in the poem The Raven, which was one of the
greatest poems in the world, which he released in 1845.

For me, the Raven poem seems to tell a story about a depressed
man that for some reason cant go to sleep and decided to read a book in
his room, while also grieving for his lost love named Lenore. Not long
after, a Raven came into his room when he goes back into his room, after
he goes out checking upon a tapping and knocking noise he heard. The
man, struck by fear, depression, and despair, starts to talk to the Raven,
asking its name, which the Raven replies Nevermore. The man is
surprised that the Raven could speak that word, and he began to stare at
the Raven, wondering how the Raven spoke that word. And when he tries
to speak with the Raven, it always replies Nevermore. The man sat on
his chair and begins to remember about his lost life Lenore, but when he
began to mutter words as he is grieving his lost life, the bird spoke the
word again Nevermore. After he heard those word, he shush the bird
away because he feels like the bird destroys his hope, but instead of
leaving, the bird says Nevermore.
The poem speaks in first person perspective. In the poem, the man
or should I say Poe, describe himself that he is weak and weary, while
reading an old book that reminds himself for the lost Lenore. Poe at that
time actually doesnt suffer from any depression, rather was just
exploring his theme of death and loss, which he has in many of his works.
However what may be interesting is how the man has a kind of debate
with the Raven. It seems like it can be a debate of yourself and your
mind, because the Raven only spoke one word and would not leave the
man, so that may be his perspective while writing the poem.
One of the lines that describes this perspective is
Wretch, I cried, thy God hath lent theeby these angels he hath sent thee
Respiterespite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!
Quoth the Raven Nevermore.

The line expresses it because the man had no reason to remember his
lost Lenore, and that he shouldve known that the bird would reply it to
Nevermore. But instead the bird acts as some kind of despair in his
mind, saying Nevermore.
One of the other unique things about this poem, aside from all the
fabulous vocabulary Poe has used, the poem is full of rhymes and refrain.
Each stanza has similar structure where the first and third line has
internal rhyme, while the second, fourth, fifth and sixth has the same end
rhyme. The fifth line always has the ending word refraining from line
fourth. The sixth line though, always has the end word more.