What was the speaker doing, and what was his state of mind when his encounter with the Raven occurred? Cite evidence from the text in support of your answer. in the text "The Raven"

In Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," the speaker is in a state of deep sorrow and despondency, grieving the loss of his beloved Lenore. When he encounters the raven, he is in a state of reflection and despair, trying to distract himself from his grief through reading and pondering over forgotten lore.

Evidence from the text to support this includes the speaker's description of himself as being "weary," "wistful," and "sorrowful." In the opening stanza, he indicates that he is trying to find solace in books, stating, "While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping." This suggests a sense of fatigue and a longing for escape from his overwhelming sadness.

As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes increasingly agitated and overwhelmed by the raven’s presence and its repeated word, “Nevermore.” His emotional state intensifies as he grapples with the finality of death and the permanence of his loss, ultimately leading to despair. The line "Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing" illustrates his mental turmoil and the profound impact the raven's visit has on him.

Thus, the speaker’s encounter with the raven serves as a catalyst that deepens his anguish and reflects his state of mind—caught between memories of Lenore and the haunting reality of her absence.