Quote the Parrot, Nevermore

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Literature would not be the same if the author didn’t take symbolism into account while writing the piece. One of the world’s best writer’s, Edgar Allen Poe, is a superb example of this representation that has intrigued mankind for centuries. Poe uses various forms of symbolism to play off the emotions of his readers. Using elements of nature, dread, superstition, and legend, Poe can create a world of trepidation in the minds of the readers; his poems and stories would not be the same without these elements. In his poem, “The Raven”, Poe has added unique elements to scare his readers, fascinate them to read on, and find themselves in an alternate world of mystery and lost hopes. The most obvious symbol is the raven itself. When Poe had decided to repeat the word "nevermore," he found that it would be most effective if he used a non-reasoning creature to utter the word. It would make little sense to use a human, since the human could reason to answer the questions the man asks the bird. It is important that the answers to the questions are already known, to illustrate the self-torture the man exposes himself to. Poe also considered using a parrot instead of a raven (Gelpi 1852). Because of the depressed tone, and the symbolism of ravens as birds of ill omen, he found the raven more suitable for the mood in the poem. Another obvious symbol is the bust of Pallas, the head and torso of the wisest goddess. The raven decided to perch on the goddess of knowledge for several reasons. It would lead the man to believe that the raven spoke from wisdom, and was not just repeating its only line, “Nevermore”. It could also signify the knowledge of the man. Having the statue in his study would lead the readers to think this man was very wise or intelligent. According to Poe, he wanted the statue in the room simply because of the "sonorousness of the word, Pallas, itself" (Gelpi
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