Question
Read this stanza from “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe.
But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
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.”
Question
How does the symbol of the raven in these lines reflect the meaning of the poem?
Responses
It shows that death conquers love.
It shows that death conquers love.
It suggests the sorrow and finality of death.
It suggests the sorrow and finality of death.
It hints that true love can never really die.
It hints that true love can never really die.
It provides hope that there is an afterlife.
But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
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.”
Question
How does the symbol of the raven in these lines reflect the meaning of the poem?
Responses
It shows that death conquers love.
It shows that death conquers love.
It suggests the sorrow and finality of death.
It suggests the sorrow and finality of death.
It hints that true love can never really die.
It hints that true love can never really die.
It provides hope that there is an afterlife.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct response is:
**It suggests the sorrow and finality of death.**
In this stanza, the presence of the raven symbolizes the inescapable nature of death and the lingering grief associated with loss. The repetitive utterance of "Nevermore" emphasizes the finality of the speaker's despair, suggesting that the memories of lost love will never be revived, further reinforcing the themes of sorrow and inevitability throughout the poem.
**It suggests the sorrow and finality of death.**
In this stanza, the presence of the raven symbolizes the inescapable nature of death and the lingering grief associated with loss. The repetitive utterance of "Nevermore" emphasizes the finality of the speaker's despair, suggesting that the memories of lost love will never be revived, further reinforcing the themes of sorrow and inevitability throughout the poem.