The Raven - Description & Letter Writing

The Raven - Description & Letter Writing

This lesson is designed to prepare you for a letter writing assignment you will have next week.

In order for this to be successful, you must first understand the narrator's emotions...

Read this extract from the beginning of the text carefully...

"Suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door —

Only this and nothing more." 

Open Ended

How does the narrator feel at the beginning of the text? Explain in as much detail as possible

Read this extract from the beginning of the text carefully...

"Vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow — sorrow for the lost Lenore —

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore —"

Open Ended

How does the narrator feel about Lenore? Explain in as much detail as possible

Open Ended

Imagine you are the narrator.

Using plenty of melodrama, write a short paragraph describing how you felt at the beginning of the text.

Use the information from the previous two questions to help you.

Fill in the Blanks

What is the Raven's name?

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore —

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"

Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

Read this extract carefully

 "Other friends have flown before —

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."

Then the bird said "Nevermore." 

Open Ended

What is the narrator's fears? Explain in as much detail as possible

Read this extract from the end of the text carefully...

 "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."

Open Ended

What is the narrator asking the Raven? How is the narrator feeling now?