The speaker, in Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," is grappling with deep sorrow and longing for Lenore, his lost love. When the raven appears, it symbolizes the speaker's despair and the permanence of loss. The specific interpretation of the bird's presence can vary, but it is generally understood that the speaker is not thinking of the bird as a divine messenger meant to encourage him to forget Lenore or to pray more. Instead, the raven serves as a constant reminder of his grief and the unlikelihood of moving on, rather than providing any sense of peace or comfort regarding Lenore's fate. Overall, the bird amplifies his torment rather than alleviating it.
The speaker thinks that God might have sent the bird to... make him forget Lenore. encourage him to pray more. ask him if he believes in angels. give him a sign that Lenore is at peace.
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