The Raven

Question

by Edgar Allan Poe

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! — prophet still, if bird or devil! —

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.”

“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.”

“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.”

Why does the speaker become angry with the raven?

It tells the speaker that Lenore loves someone else.

It flies away without answering the speaker's questions.

It replies "nevermore" when the speaker asks if Lenore still loves him.

It replies "nevermore" when the speaker asks if he will be reunited with Lenore.

Answer 1

The speaker becomes angry with the raven primarily because it replies "nevermore" when he asks if he will be reunited with Lenore. This response reinforces his despair and hopelessness regarding his lost love, which contributes to his frustration and anguish. The raven's persistent negative responses serve as a reminder of his sorrow and loss, ultimately leading to the speaker's emotional breakdown. Thus, the correct answer is:

It replies "nevermore" when the speaker asks if he will be reunited with Lenore.