Final answer:
Edgar Allan Poe's payment of $14 for 'The Raven' is equivalent to about $440 today. While it may seem modest considering the poem's success, it must be seen within the context of the 19th-century publishing industry norms and economic conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edgar Allan Poe received $14 for 'The Raven', which, when adjusted for inflation, is approximately $440 in today's dollars. To evaluate whether this compensation was fair can be subjective and depends on various factors such as the popularity of the poem, the financial conditions of the publishing industry at that time, and the usual payments to authors during Poe's era.
However, considering the immense popularity and the lasting impact 'The Raven' has had on literature, some might argue that the amount seems modest compared to the value the work has provided over time. It is essential to also factor in the economic reality of Poe's time and the publishing industry's norms.
At that time, authors often struggled financially, and the concept of royalties was not as established as it is today. Thus, although Poe's payment for 'The Raven' was typical of the period, from a modern perspective and considering the poem's success, it might be viewed as relatively low. Yet, in the context of the mid-19th century, the payment might have been considered a standard rate for a single poem.