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  • Essay / The Raven: A Comparison of the Poem and the Film Adaptation

    The poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe is known for its rhyme, repetition, and language. The poem is about a crow's visit to a distraught lover, causing the man to sink into sadness. In the film illustrating Poe's poem "The Raven", the director chose to reflect the source text in his adaptation of the setting, characters and atmosphere of the story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayThe first element that ties well into the story of the film is the setting. An example of setting is the month of December, a hard month that can symbolize the end of life because it is the end of the year. Making the film set in this month can symbolize the man's emotions throughout the film. Another example of setting is the time of events; the film was set at midnight, creating the illusion of a dark atmosphere and a feeling of sadness and foreboding. Because the main point of the poem is to express an upset lover, midnight is the perfect setting to express the feeling of depression and madness. The last example that expresses the setting is the room the man is in – the bedroom. In this film, this specific room is used to create the feeling of a lifeless and depressing atmosphere, to convey the meaning of the film. Because the film is in black and white, the room can express a feeling of loneliness, or even more mysterious elements. Another element that the director chose to reflect the source of the text are the characters. The second element that ties well into the film and the short story are the confusing and discouraged characters. An example of characters is the Raven. In the film, the raven is used to express the heartbreaking memory of the narrator's deceased, Lenore. When the raven enters the room, it towers over the narrator. The darkness of the bird symbolizes death; therefore, death becomes a continuous reminder for man. Another example of characters is the man with no name. The man is sad over the loss of someone he loved, which makes him believe he is fighting with the crow, but he is fighting with himself and his emotions. In order for the director to reflect the source of the text, another element he chose is the atmosphere. The third element which is well linked to the film and the short story is the atmosphere. One example the director uses to create mood is lighting. The lighting in a film can set the mood of the scene and can also say a lot about the plot. In this film, the director used low-key lighting to create contrast and harsh shadows to create a feeling of sadness and loneliness. Another example the director uses to create mood is camera angles. In a film, camera angles can affect the emotional response to the characters and can also express the mood the director is trying to achieve. In this film, the director used diving to create the mood. By using this angle, the mood is expressed by making the raven look more dominant than the man. The last example used by the director to create the mood of the film is color. The director incorporated colors when the man has flashbacks/hallucinations; the colors used are red, blue and green. In a film, these colors set the mood: danger, injury and isolation. In the film, all of these elements helped to reflect the source of the text. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, in the film depicting Poe's poem "The Raven," The director chose to..