Final answer:
Upon opening the door, the speaker in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' sees a stately raven which perches above his chamber door on a bust of Pallas Athena, creating an eerie and sorrowful atmosphere in the poem.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, when the speaker responds to the tapping by opening the door, he encounters a stately raven. This mysterious bird enters, exhibiting a demeanor of gentle dignity, and perches itself upon a bust of Pallas Athena, situated just above the chamber door. This moment marks the beginning of the speaker's interaction with the raven, which ultimately deepens the mood of supernatural unease and sorrow within the poem.
The raven's unwavering presence above the chamber door, combined with its repetitive utterance of 'nevermore,' leads the speaker to experience a profound sense of despair. The bird's seeming indifference adds to the eerie atmosphere, with its eyes casting a demon-like gaze upon the speaker as its silhouette casts a foreboding shadow on the floor. Poe masterfully uses this imagery to reflect the speaker's inner turmoil and the pervasive sense of irrevocable loss.