Research assignment

Literature Source

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe


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


"Front Cover." Poetry for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski and Mary Ruby. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1998. [0]. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Nov. 2014.

Scientific Source

Northern ravens and people: People killed northern ravens because they wrongly blamed ravens for the death of cattle. The raven is a symbol of death and the bird's ability to say words is the subject of Edgar Allen Poe's poem, "The Raven.



"Cover." Grzimek's Student Animal Life Resource. Ed. Catherine Judge Allen, et al. Vol. 1: Amphibians: Volume 1. Detroit: UXL, 2005. [0]. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Nov. 2014.

Printed Source

In Europe, Ravens and Crows have often been seen as birds of ill omen, probably because of their role as scavengers on battlefields. Common ravens have a more positive role in native north american tradition where they are seen as creators and folk heroes.






Firefly Encyclopedia of birds

Edited by Christopher Perrins

Published by fire flu books Ltd 2003

Page 480

Explanation

A symbol I would define the Raven is powerful and intelligent. The Raven has had an influence on Poe's writings and it's still seen as a bird that is believed to be superstitious. These three items I chose fit together because Poe's writings are still relevant today and people still have bad ideas about Ravens. One difference I see how these items approach the theme is the scientific fact shows how the Ravens were victims of slaughter, but Poe defines them as evil.