美国文学2 Edgar Allan Poe.ppt

3.4. Sound It takes Poe 4 years to complete “The Raven” →a marvel of regularity: 719 feet of which 705 are perfect trochees (1 strong + 1 weak), 10 doubtful trochees and only 4 clearly dactyls (1 strong + 2 weak) Rhyme scheme: abcbbb Internal rhyme (dreary, weary; remember, December) Alliteration (flirt, flutter; stately, saintly…) Assonance (dreary, weary; napping, tapping, rapping; morrow, borrow, sorrow, with the sound “o” to show one’s sadness, sorrow and grievous mood; …) Sound and rhythm make the poem musical and melodious. They contribute a lot to the mood and the theme of the writing at the same time. 3.5 symbolism 3.5.1 Raven: disaster and misfortune Raven, the large bird-like crow with black feathers, in Western countries, as well as it is in China, is conventionally regarded as an ominous fowl, a symbol of misfortune. Thus with the repetition of the napping and tapping the poet was filled with fantastic terrors never felt before. 3.5.2 the lost Lenore : the soul of the radiant maiden, beauty and hope At the moment when the poet was in the darkness peering, wondering, expecting and whispering Lenore but was just responded with a nothing more, the Raven, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door. A conversation was held and the poet was so comforted with it. For twice, the poet felt the bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling. 3.5.3 The poet’s strong passion to Lenore: the sub-consciousness of the poet In the conversation the poet distinctly expressed his strong passion to Lenore. However, the only response from the Raven was Nevermore. It seems what the poet had expressed is simply the view out of the id, while the Raven s words are rather restrictive and seem out of ego. The poet was too affectionate to Lenore to be restrictive, while the Raven was what warned him to be rational and that what had been lost would return nevermore. 3.5.4 The poet’s frustration: the modern r