Many factors in "The Raven" hint to the story's Gothic nature: a lonely figure in a state of intense emotion; the cold and blackness of midnight in December. The poem's most notable illustration of the supernatural is the Raven, a supposedly demonic, talking bird that enters at midnight. When it leaves at dawn, however, there are no signs that it has been there other than some blood on its beak. These elements combine to create a feeling of horror and doom. Although more modern readers may find this aspect hard to understand, it was common for poets and writers of the time to use these techniques to make their poems more appealing to their audience. Gothic poetry is known for its dramatic monologues and episodic structure. The Raven follows this format well - although some might say it is too focused on depression and loneliness to be considered Gothic poetry. However, it does contain many dark themes that would have been familiar to its audience including death, madness, and sin. These topics reflect the feelings of many people living at the time when the poem was written - afraid and unsure about what tomorrow will bring. Furthermore, like many Gothic novels, The Raven contains scenes where the main character feels guilty for their role in a tragedy that affects them deeply.