Edgar Allen Poe - The Raven, difficulty level

DS86

Just wondering if anybody has ever read this book by Poe? It certainly seems very, very interesting. However, on the other hand it seems to be very difficult to understand. Has anybody ever read this book before, and if so, did you manage to understand it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLSmhpwLdEQ

Sunhill

This is a very bare summary of the main theme:

The writer is melancholy because of the death of his beloved Lenore.
He searches in the 'volumes of forgotten lore' for meaning or consolation but is finding nothing.
At this, a raven flies in. Ravens can be taught to talk and this one had picked up only the single word 'nevermore' from a previous owner.
When the writer discovers that the raven can answer him back he looks for reassuring answers about Leonore's soul living on 'in the distant Aiden (Heaven)' and that he will meet with her there again -- 'shall clasp a sainted maiden, whom the angels name Lenore'.
However, he knows that the only answer he will get is 'nevermore', and even though it is a meaningless answer, he becomes even more melancholy at not getting the consolation that he knew he raven couldn't give him in the first place.

Google 'Poe' and 'Raven' and you'll find dozens of excellent sites, each with a much more comprehensive and detailed explanation.

First_October

The Raven is one of my favourite poems! It's not that difficult at all; maybe some of the language is a bit archaic for today's generation, though.

The Simpsons did a brilliant Treehouse of Horror episode about it. Look it up!