Final answer:
In 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe, the speaker's emotions turn from initial amusement to deep despair as the raven's repetition of 'Nevermore' signifies eternal sorrow and loss of hope.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven', the speaker's emotions transition from painful reminiscence to despair and resignation as the poem concludes. Initially, the speaker is amused by the raven, even pushing his sorrow aside momentarily with the distraction it provides. However, as the raven continues to respond with nothing but 'Nevermore' to his queries about his lost Lenore and his own respite from suffering, the speaker's mood darkens significantly.
By the end of the poem, the speaker realizes that the raven is a symbol of his unending sorrow and that he will not find relief from his torment. The repetition of 'Nevermore' sinks the speaker into a state of acceptance that his soul will not be lifted from the shadow of grief. The final stanzas of the poem leave the speaker with the crushing realization that neither hope nor peace will visit him again, as indicated by the raven's continued presence and its final word - 'Nevermore'.