Why did Poe write The Raven?

Answer 1

The original story that Poe adapted was a story he was writing about his dying wife Virginia. When he met with Dickens, who had lost and stuffed a cherished pet (the raven from Dickens' novel Barnaby Rudge (1841)), Poe must have been inspired to use a talking raven for his own poem.

Edgar Allan Poe wrote the poem "The Raven" because his father abandoned him and his mother died when he was almost two.

These kinds of poems were the best Poe could offer and it was why I think Poe wrote it.

Answer 2

Edgar Allan Poe and the Raven bird were very mysterious, and very much alike.

A raven can be taught to mimic a voice therefore they are sometimes considered symbolic of wisdom. In addition, ravens are totally black, which is the customary symbolic color for death. In using a raven, Poe produces in the mind of the reader both the notion of death and that the raven's single spoken word "Nevermore." has a special meaning.

Answer 3

The raven has long been a symbol of loss or death, and in many cultures encountering a raven is considered an omen of death or suffering. In "The Raven" the narrator is lamenting the loss of his lover, and is attempting to make peace with, or at least cope with the constant and unavoidable presence of death (the raven) as it pushes him towards madness.

Answer 4

The raven is featured in folklore as an omen bringer, messenger of death and warning of disaster for thousands of years. Ravens appear in cultures including ancient Celtic, Greek, Norse and Northwest Indian. I recently toured the UBC Museum of Anthropology and was surpised by the many traditions and customs involving the raven. Especially notable was Bill Reed's astounding carving, 'Raven and the birth of men'.

Answer 5

Poe wrote "The Raven" as a narrative poem exploring themes of grief, loss, and madness. The poem delves into the speaker's descent into despair after losing his beloved Lenore and the torment caused by the mysterious visit of the raven. Poe used this poem to showcase his mastery of rhythm, language, and psychological depth.

Answer 6

Because Poe is a Dark Romantic and they believed in darker and more "evil" things. Also, the raven represents grief and death so a raven works better than a sparrow or parrot.