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In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Philosophy of Composition," how does Poe say he creates contrast in the portrayal of the bird in "The Raven"?

A. The bird begins with kind news, and then it delves into sad news.
B. The bird's entrance is almost comical, and then it becomes ominous.
C. The bird talks a lot at first, and then it refuses to answer questions.
D. The bird's appearance is startling at first, and then it becomes commonplace.

2 Answers

2 votes

the answer is B. the birds entrance is almost comical


User YPK
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The correct answer is letter B.

The Raven is a poem about a man being psychologically tormented by a Raven that keeps repeating “Nevermore”. This reminds the man of his dead paramour “Lenore” and all he has lost.

The speaker, a man who cries for his deceased love, Lenore, has been visited by a talking bird who knows only the word, “Nevermore.”

The narrator feels so grieved over the loss of his love that he allows his imagination to transform the bird into a prophet bringing news that the lovers will “Nevermore” be reunited, not even in heaven.

Poe describes the poem as one that reveals the human penchant for “self-torture” as evidenced by the speaker’s tendency to weigh himself down with grief.

A talking bird was amusing at first but became a nightmare with the answer " Nevermore."

User Longsight
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