Entry 2: The Corvus Corax

I find it astounding that the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe is still relevant and popular in the modern day, despite it's age. This poem is probably still read today because of how it uses repetition, imagery, and symbolism so effectively.

The repetition is shown numerous times in the poem, such as "Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore. Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore." Poe uses this repetition to protract the happenings in the plot and literally add suspense to a piece of writing!

The imagery in the poem was created by not only his descriptive writing, but Poe's use of metaphoric adjectives, the kind that can relate to an object. For example, "ebony bird." Ebony not only describes the color of the raven, but also allows the reader to relate to the object of ebony, further immersing the reader into the piece.

Finally, the use of symbolism in the poem, of the raven, is malevolent in it's own right. Ravens, although remarkably intelligent creatures, are often mistaken for crows, birds which are seen as synonymous with death. Thus both creatures have taken on the role of being ominous overseers, foreshadowing ill fate. Even when I see such a bird while walking home from school I become anxious, let alone in a setting such as in my own house!

All of these elements of suspense (through repetition), descriptive writing and symbolism are still effective and used in modern writing and media, which I think shows that Poe was ahead of his time, or at least was brilliant enough to use these elements to create a dark, macabre, and ominous mood, which is so poignant it is still felt by readers today.