Skip to main content

Where and when do the events of the poem take place?

Clues in "The Raven" indicate it is set around the same time it was published, 1845. The narrator alludes to the raven perching on the bust of Pallas (Athena, the goddess of wisdom), something not likely to appear, for instance, in a medieval chamber, which would mostly likely be filled with Christian iconography. The narrator also mentions a sofa and purple velvet upholstery, both of which we associate with the Victorian era. This student's room...

Clues in "The Raven" indicate it is set around the same time it was published, 1845. The narrator alludes to the raven perching on the bust of Pallas (Athena, the goddess of wisdom), something not likely to appear, for instance, in a medieval chamber, which would mostly likely be filled with Christian iconography. The narrator also mentions a sofa and purple velvet upholstery, both of which we associate with the Victorian era. This student's room seems to be furnished with goods we might associate with industrialism. For example, before the rise of factory produced goods, one would expect to find materials such as purple velvet in palaces, not a student's chamber.


As noted in the answer above, the story is set in December, at midnight. December is the season that includes the shortest day of the year, hence the most darkness, and midnight is a time we associate with darkness. The raven, too, is dark, adding to the somber mood.


More interestingly, we are not given a specific geographic location. As with "The Fall of the House of Usher," Poe is more interested in exploring universal themes than setting the poem in an identifiable place. 


Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more