55 But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
56 That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
57 Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—
58 Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before—
59 On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”
60 Then the bird said “Nevermore.”
61 Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
62 “Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store
63 Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
64 Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
65 Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
66 Of ‘Never—nevermore’.”
67 But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
68 Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
69 Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
70 Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—
71 What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
72 Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”
In Greek mythology, ravens were the messengers of Apollo, the god of prophecy. They were considered to be a symbol of bad luck. Which context clue suggests the Raven in the poem represents this negative connotation?
Answer choices for the above question
A. Line 59, when the speaker says “he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”
B. Line 60, when the Raven says “Nevermore” in response to the speaker believing “On the morrow he [the Raven] will leave me.”
C. Line 63, when the speaker believes the Raven learned to say “Nevermore” “from some unhappy master.”
D. Line 68, when the speaker “wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door.”
1 answer
The best answer choice that suggests the Raven in the poem represents a negative connotation is:
C. Line 63, when the speaker believes the Raven learned to say “Nevermore” “from some unhappy master.”
This line implies that the Raven carries a message of sorrow or misfortune, as it is linked to an "unhappy master" and the burdens of despair, which aligns with the negative associations of ravens in mythology.
