: Which TWO of the following quotes best support the answer to Part A?

Question

A. "'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door — / Only this and nothing more.'" (Lines 5-6)
B. "Eagerly I wished the morrow; — vainly I had sought to borrow / From my books surcease of sorrow — sorrow for the lost Lenore — " (Lines 9-10)
C. "Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking / Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore — / What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore / Meant in croaking 'Nevermore.'" (Lines 69-72)
D. "Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer / Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor." (Lines 79-80)
E. "'Prophet!' said I, 'thing of evil! — prophet still, if bird or devil! — / Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore'" (Lines 85-86)
F. "And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, / And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; / And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor / Shall be lifted — nevermore!" (Lines 105-108)
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Answer 1

To determine which two quotes best support the answer to Part A, we need to consider the context and themes present in the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.

The two quotes that most effectively support the themes of longing, despair, and the haunting presence of memory associated with the lost Lenore are:

B. "Eagerly I wished the morrow; — vainly I had sought to borrow / From my books surcease of sorrow — sorrow for the lost Lenore — " (Lines 9-10)

• This quote highlights the speaker's deep sorrow and desire for relief from his grief over Lenore.

F. "And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, / And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; / And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor / Shall be lifted — nevermore!" (Lines 105-108)

• This passage reflects the sense of foreboding and despair that envelops the speaker as he contemplates the fate of his soul, linking to the themes of permanence and loss.

Thus, quotes B and F are the strongest in supporting the overall themes of the poem.