54.3k views
2 votes
In the poem 'The Raven', how is the word 'Nevermore' related to the speaker's emotional state at the end of the poem?

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The word 'Nevermore' in 'The Raven' reflects the speaker's deepening despair and hopelessness as it negates any possibility of comfort or reunion with the lost Lenore, leaving the speaker in unending sorrow.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Edgar Allan Poe's poem 'The Raven', the repeating word 'Nevermore' is intrinsically linked to the speaker's descending emotional state. This word uttered by the raven becomes a tormenting refrain that underscores the speaker's despair and loss. With each repetition of 'Nevermore', the raven seems to crush any hope the speaker clings to, ultimately leaving them in a state of defeat and hopelessness. The final utterance signals the eternal permanence of the speaker's sorrow, as the raven's presence cements the unending remembrance of Lenore and eliminates any chance of relief or distraction from grief.

User Hansn
by
8.4k points