Edgar Allan Poe in the poem The Raven (1845) suggests that sorrow and pain are strong emotions that are difficult to control. Poe supports his suggestion by demonstrating the narrator's inability to let go of his grief. The author's goal is to show how sadness can affect someone so that the reader can better understand grief. The author writes in a dark tone for the reader. Edgar Allen Poe uses literary elements in this story as well as the theme of grief to inform the reader of the power of anguish. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Raven's theme regarding grief is that it is hard to let go of grief. Lines 10 and 11 say: "From my books increase of sorrow-grief for the lost Lenore-For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels call Lenore..."'. Lines 53, 54, and 58 read: “Drink, oh drink this sweet nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!” " This helps illustrate the narrator's difficulties in letting go of his grief for Lenore because he mentions his sadness, his grief, and how he wishes it would all go away several times throughout the story. Additionally, the narrator also suggests to the Raven that he could drink a drug to make him forget all his sorrow and loneliness, but the Raven will respond "Never again", implying that even the strongest drugs could not provide relief. his sorrow. This is important because it relates to the theme of not being able to easily control the emotions of misery and sorrow. Poe uses certain literary elements in the poem that help contribute to the reader's understanding of the theme. These literary elements are repetitions and symbols. For example, lines 31, 32 and 33 say: "Open here, I threw down the shutter, when, with many flirts and flapping of wings, in came a majestic raven from the holy days of old: not the least obedience was not given to him...". In lines 65 and 66, the narrator says, “Take your beak from my heart and take your form from my door!” » and the Raven replies "Never again". The Raven is used here as a symbol of the narrator's grief in that the Raven and his grief appear unexpectedly and both refuse to leave him. In line 47, the narrator describes the Raven as "sinister, horrible, gaunt, and menacing..." This repetitive use of these alliterative and mysterious words helps create a dark tone surrounding the Raven, further confirmation of the Raven's dark symbolism. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The author wants the reader to understand the theme of endless sorrow. He does this by using rhetorical devices such as alliteration, symbolism, and repetition to create a somber atmosphere and immerse the reader in the narrator's feelings of grief for his lost lover. Works Cited Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48860/the-raven.