Final answer:
Upon hearing the tapping at his door, the speaker of 'The Raven' feels a mix of weary curiosity and a chilling fear, hopeful yet fearful it might be his lost love, Lenore.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Edgar Allan Poe's poem 'The Raven', when the speaker first hears the tapping at his chamber door, he experiences a mix of emotions. Initially, he feels weary from poring over old books.
Then, as he hears the tapping and whispers 'Lenore,' a name that seems to echo back, his feelings shift towards a blend of fear and wonder. The speaker yearns for his lost love, Lenore, and possibly, for a moment, entertains the hope or fear that it might be her.
However, this is quickly replaced by a chilling fear and trepidation as the silence and darkness remain unbroken.
When he eventually opens the door to find the Raven, instead of Lenore, the bird becomes a grim symbol of his sorrow that will never leave — implying that his soul will not be uplifted from the shadow of despair, 'nevermore.'