The Raven

The Raven is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. Originally published in 1845, the poem delves into the hidden horrors of the human psyche. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow fall into madness. The lover, often identified as being a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven seems to further instigate his distress with its constant repetition of the word "Nevermore." The poem makes use of a number of folk, mythological, religious, and classical references. Poe claimed to have written the poem very logically and methodically.

'The Raven' was first attributed to Poe in print in the 'New York Evening Mirror' on January 29, 1845. Its publication made Poe widely popular in his lifetime, although it did not bring him much monetary gain. The poem was soon reprinted, parodied, and illustrated. It remains one of the most famous poems ever written.