Comparing The Raven Of Edger Allen Poe's The Raven

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There are both similarities and differences between the Raven of Edger Allen Poe’s “The Raven” and the Raven from Native American mythology.

The similarities are that they are both ravens and are symbols. The raven from Poe’s “The Raven” represents sadness while the raven from Native American mythology represents change. “…thing of evil…I implore! Quoth the raven, “Nevermore!”” (333) reminds the narrator that his love will never come back. The man at first seems to think that the raven knows the answers to all, but later on, he finds that the raven is annoying, and is only making him sadder. “…still is sitting…and my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—Nevermore!”(334) Means that the story is still happening, …show more content…

Edger Allen Poe’s Raven goes to the sad man who is lamenting for his love, and says the one word that he knows, which is “Nevermore.” The Raven basically tells the man that his love will never come back, and on every statement or question, he merely answers “Nevermore!” At first, the raven is a mere guest to the man, but as the conversation continues, the man realizes that he does not want the bird with him. He tries to have the bird leave, but “Nevermore” keeps coming back at him. The poem ends with him wallowing in sorrow as the bird never leaves, and the bird represents the shadow of his grief over him, “…still is sitting…And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—Nevermore!” (344) The raven from Native American myths seems to be naughty but at the same time helpful. The Native American myth, “Raven steals the light,” shows Raven’s naughty yet helpful side. In the story, Raven decides to get the sunlight back from a man who took it. Raven hides as a fish in a river and the man’s daughter comes for the water. When she drinks, the raven in disguise as a fish goes into her water and gets inside her. The girl gets pregnant and gives birth to a baby, who is actually Raven. Raven one day cried, and so his grandfather gave him the sun to play with. Raven took the sun outside and threw into the air, restoring light everywhere, and flew

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