"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evill-prophet still, if bird or devill Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted On this home by Horror haunted tell me truly, I implore -Is there is there balm in Gilead?tell me tell me, I implore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

Question

90
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us by that God we both adore Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore." Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."
95
"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting -"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."
100
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; 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!

1 Which of the following best describes the narrator's emotional state in lines 85-95?
A. Indifferent and unconcerned
B. Hopeful but desperate for answers
C. Angry and vengeful
D. Confident and fearless
2 What does the poet's portrayal of the Raven in lines 85-90 reveal to the reader?
A. The Raven is a messenger of comfort.
B. The Raven symbolizes the narrator's fear and anxiety.
C. The Raven represents the arrival of a long-lost friend.
D. The Raven brings news of hope and happiness.
Read this quotation from line 100.
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Which conclusion is best supported by this quotation?
A. The narrator wants to protect the Raven from harm.
B. The narrator feels threatened by the Raven's presence.
C. The narrator wants the Raven to stay and provide guidance.
D. The narrator wishes for the Raven to repeat its prophecy.
Which details from lines 100-105 best support the main idea that the narrator is deeply troubled and cannot escape his despair? Select TWO correct answers.
Leave my loneliness unbroken! (line 100)
Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! (line 98)
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting (line 103)
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor (line 107)
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door! (line 101)
Use the annotated text from today's lesson and the text on the DOL to answer the question below.
How do external forces, such as loss and grief, impact the narrator's perception of reality and his interactions with the Raven? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

Certainly! Here are the answers to the questions you've provided:

1. Which of the following best describes the narrator's emotional state in lines 85-95?

   • B. Hopeful but desperate for answers
     In these lines, the narrator expresses a longing to know if he will be reunited with Lenore, a "sainted maiden" whom he desires to clasp. The use of phrases like “Tell this soul with sorrow laden” conveys his sorrow, while still maintaining a glimmer of hope for an answer regarding a reunion.

2. What does the poet's portrayal of the Raven in lines 85-90 reveal to the reader?

   • B. The Raven symbolizes the narrator's fear and anxiety.
     The Raven is depicted as a foreboding presence that offers no solace. It is described with words like "devil" and is connected to themes of torment and regret. Its repeated refrain of "Nevermore" highlights the narrator's devastation and anxiety over loss and the permanence of death.

3. Which conclusion is best supported by this quotation?

   • B. The narrator feels threatened by the Raven's presence.
     The plea to "Leave my loneliness unbroken!" and "Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!" shows that the narrator feels as though the Raven is contributing to his despair and isolation, indicating a sense of threat rather than seeking comfort or guidance.

4. Which details from lines 100-105 best support the main idea that the narrator is deeply troubled and cannot escape his despair? Select TWO correct answers.

   • Leave my loneliness unbroken! (line 100)
     This line clearly illustrates the narrator's sense of isolation and longing for peace.
   • Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door! (line 101)
     This line expresses the deep emotional pain the narrator feels, which further underscores his troubled state and his yearning to be free from the torment he associates with the Raven.

Response to the External Forces Question: The narrator’s perception of reality and his interactions with the Raven are profoundly influenced by his experiences of loss and grief. Throughout the poem, the narrator grapples with the haunting absence of Lenore, the woman he mourns deeply. This overwhelming loss clouds his reality, causing him to interpret the Raven's presence as a symbol of his sorrow and despair.

For example, in the lines “Leave my loneliness unbroken!” and “Take thy beak from out my heart,” the narrator directly connects the Raven to his emotional suffering. He feels that the bird exacerbates his isolation rather than alleviating it, reflecting how grief distorts his sense of reality. The Raven's repeated declaration of "Nevermore" becomes a constant reminder of loss and the futility of hope, trapping the narrator in a cycle of despair that he feels unable to escape. Thus, the external forces of grief and loss shape his responses, making interactions with the Raven a manifestation of his inner turmoil rather than a path to solace.