In the poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe, suspense is built up from stanza to stanza in a variety of ways. Through vivid imagery and well-crafted word choice, Poe paints a vivid picture of the narrator’s mounting dread.
The poem begins with the narrator alone in his chamber, nervously peering out the window. As he looks out, his mind drifts to Lenore, further increasing the tension. Suddenly, a raven appears at his window sill and the narrator is terrified. He quickly questions the bird, who only responds with a single word: “Nevermore”.
The narrator becomes increasingly distressed as he contemplates the implications of this reply. He imagines that the bird is a sign from beyond the grave, sent by Lenore to warn him of impending doom. With each stanza, the mood and intensity builds, as the narrator grows ever more desperate. Eventually, the narrator realizes that the bird is not a sign from the hereafter, but a harbinger of the despair he feels over losing Lenore.
Throughout the poem, Poe uses alliteration, assonance, and evocative language to create an atmosphere of fear and sorrow. He employs repetition of words to create a sense of dread and an ever-rising sense of tension. All of these elements combine to form a powerful story of heartbreak and despair, made even more poignant by the use of sublime imagery.
By using an array of techniques, Poe gradually builds suspense from stanza to stanza in the poem “The Raven”. His skillful manipulation of language and his masterful understanding of human emotions allows him to create an atmosphere of fear and dread that will linger in the minds of readers for years to come.