The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-08-28
POE'S RAVEN"

by tracing its source to an affection which the
author cherished for beautiful girl. to whom
he had made repeated promises that he would
cease his Incorporate habits. She. finding
how continually his word was broken. died
of broken heart. at the age of twenty. He
never after Invested himself of feeling of re.
morse, for he regarded himself az morally
guilty OF her death. end this poem was the
outgrowth of that depression: lA
| The real meaning OF the s'Raycn" 10 re-.
morse and any one who aspires to the merit
directing the poem correc ~ must remem.
Der that when Poe says, "Quaff oh quar- this
kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore,"
he does not mean that he should drink ofany
beverage like the hem!ock OF Socrates. or
medicine to lull the pain, but the uepenthe
OF the miad, forgetfuIness because II he
could forget Lenore he would b. happy.
We will now. as briefly as possible, describe
the poem. Let US bear in mind that Poe was
a Spiritualist, and that :he Raven is q
spiritual narration The poet was sitting in
his study late at night, and had been read
Ing, not books for amusement, or even in
struction, but tales of Egyptian mysteries
! (old forgotten lore). that told of the invoca-
ton OF spirits from the tomb. Hearing a
slight noise, and his Imagination being excl.
ted by what he had been reading. he thought
''Can that be spirit at the door. or did
only fancy heard noise?' Endcavoring to
shake off his fears. he tried 10 persuade him
self that 1t was only some friend or visitor
calling at that late hour. His thoughts then
required to that loved being whose body was
In the earth but whose spirit had Ascended to
lts kindred in heaven, and had received .
new name in the spiritual world Her name
was Alice while ON earth, but now she was,
renamed Lenore.
His imagination being 80 fully excited |
even the rushing of the curtain thrilled him, |
and filled him with the most fantastic terro.
SO that to resssure his heart he tried to con
vince himselfthat it was only friend at the
door.and he addresses the supposed visitor,
aud begs pardon for not answering the re-
quest for admission. He then throws the
door wide and, to his surprise, he can neither
see any one, or even hear the rustic OF the |
garment ofe person retiring. Standing still |
and tor long time peering into the darkness, |
full of wonder, f. ar and doubt, his thoughts
recur to the loved one who every evening
world come to his study, aud with her gentle
voice soothe his cares, and encourage him to
persevere in his noble struggle for fame. For
getting that she is dead, he in low tone Of
voice utters the name "Lenore;'' no real
voice replies. but his heart answers, like an
echo, that Lenore is dead, and will return no
more. He then, with his soul burning within
him returns into his chamber, and again
fancies he hears the knocking; but this time
IT appears to proceed from the window, and
he throws it wide open, when. to his intense
establishments ghostly bird in the shape of a
raven, enters the room, and without noticing
the poet in any way, perches itself upon the
bust of the goddess Pallas, that was placed
over the door of the chamber He addresses
the bird, and requests it to tell him it's name.
The bird answers, "Nevermore He mar
vels at the answer given, but thinks there
can be no mean ing IN it, and mutters to him
self that other friends have fed before, and
that on the morrow this new friend will also
leave him. But when the bird replies that il
will never CO so, he is startled ct receiving
such an apt reply to his remark. He then
| saats himself upon the couch where be had
passed so many happy hours of intellectual
enjoy ment with heloving mNidsn who cheer
ed his lonely lot with her smiles and won
dered what the bird meant by croaking New
ermore. Realizing all he had lost when
Lenore died, and full Of remorse. he imagines
that the air becomes denser and that the
footsteps of the angels arc audible around
him, He then bids his heart take courage
because God has sent him the blessing OF
forge'fuiness. But the raven tells him that
he is mistaken. He appeals to the bird, and
acknowledges that it is prophet, and asks
1t If he truly repents will he not be forgiven,
The raven answers, Never! He then i'm
plores the bird to inform him if he shall be |
returned In the land of spirits to the Made n |
he adores. The raven replies. No! Full of
Indignation at the reply, so contrary to the
eachings of Christianity, he denounces the
bird, and tells it to take its beak from cut
his heart, and return to the kingdom of dark
ness whence 1t came. The bird replies that
1T will never leave him. Imagining that he
must have committed the objectionable sin
he gives way to the anguish of his soul; and
in the deepest dependency he feels that. shat
raven or remorse. will be sitting upon his
heart forever, and that his soul will be lifted
from utter DESPAIR.
Some elocutionists, in their rendition OF
tie Poem, do not grasp the real meaning of
the poet they recite it as if all they describe
Is little fact, and that while Poe is in his
chambers real bird enters at the window /