Question

the raven
back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
soon again i heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
\surely,\ said i, \surely that is something at my window lattice;
let me see, then, who thereat is, and this mystery explore—
let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore—
tis the wind and nothing more!\

open here i flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
in there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
but, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
perched upon a bust of pallas just above my chamber door—
perched, and sat, and nothing more.

then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
by the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
\though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,\ i said, \art sure no craven,
ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore—
tell me what thy lordly name is on the nights plutonian shore!\
quoth the raven
evermore.\

much i marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;
for we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door,
bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
with such name as
evermore.\

but the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
that one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather did he flutter—
till i scarcely more than muttered \other friends have flown before—
on the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.\
then the bird said
evermore.\

started at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
\doubtless,\ said i, \what it utters is its only stock and store
caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
of never—nevermore.\

infer: on the previous page (stanzas 1-5), the name \lenore\ is repeated several times. on this page (stanzas 6-11), which important words are repeated? highlight them. who do you think lenore is and what might the repetition in stanzas 6-11 signify?
lenore inference:

repetition inference:

predict: the bust of pallas refers to pallas athena, the greek goddess of wisdom. predict how this symbol might be used to convey a deeper meaning by the end of the poem. i predict the bust of pallas will represent...because...

summarize: the mood changes slightly in this section of the poem. using only one word, sum up the mood of stanzas 6-11.
underline the words that contribute to this mood.

Explanation:

Lenore Inference:

Lenore is likely a loved one (e.g., a lost love) of the speaker. The repetition of her name earlier and the speaker’s sorrowful tone suggest she is important, maybe deceased, and the repetition of other words now relates to his grief over her.

In stanzas 6 - 11, “Nevermore” is repeated. The raven’s single - word response “Nevermore” to the speaker’s questions likely symbolizes the speaker’s unending grief, hopelessness, and the finality of his loss (related to Lenore). It reinforces the theme of eternal sorrow and the impossibility of escaping his pain.

Pallas Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom. The bust of Pallas will represent the speaker’s rationality or wisdom being juxtaposed with the raven’s “Nevermore” (symbolizing irrational grief). The raven perching on it shows how grief (the raven) invades or contrasts with the speaker’s rational self (wisdom of Pallas), highlighting the conflict between reason and overwhelming sorrow.

Answer:

Lenore is likely the speaker’s lost loved one (e.g., deceased girlfriend/lover), and the repetition in stanzas 6 - 11 (like “Nevermore”) may signify the speaker’s inability to move on from her loss, with the raven’s response echoing his eternal grief.

Repetition Inference: