Question

In the poem "the raven," what information does the poet withhold from the reader to create suspense?which word the bird repeatswhat time of day it iswho the woman lenore iswhat is making the noise

Answer 1

Edgar Allan Poe withholds the backstory of Lenore and the exact source of the mysterious noise in 'The Raven' to create suspense, while the word 'Nevermore' is clearly stated as the raven's repeated utterance.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, the poet purposefully withholds certain information to create a sense of suspense. While the poem explicitly mentions that the raven repeats the word "Nevermore," it is less clear regarding the backstory of the woman named Lenore and what exactly is making the noise at the beginning of the poem. The poet does not provide detailed information about who Lenore is, which adds to the mysterious and melancholic atmosphere. Additionally, the noise that prompts the narrator to initially speak is described, but its exact source is left to the reader's imagination, further building the ominous mood.

The poem takes place at midnight, as expressly stated in the opening line, which sets a spooky, nocturnal scene for the encounter with the raven. The narrative cleverly uses ambiguity about Lenore and the unseen disturbance to draw the reader into the poem's eerie narrative, while the repetition of "Nevermore" by the raven serves as a haunting refrain that underscores the theme of loss and despair.