Friday, November 17, 2006
Edgar Allan Poe II
Katja
ENGL 48A
Journal # 16, Poe II
November 17, 2006
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, while I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door." (1518)
This excerpt is from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, one of the most recognizable opening stanzas in American literature. A beautifully measured piece of verse, it lulls the reader into the world of the poem’s subject, and in addition, its imagery provides an instant setting.
At first glance, the verse seems to be about death, as is suggested by several clues: midnight, weak and weary, nearly napping, chamber (of death), the tapping of the other world. This seems an obvious reading of the poem: the person sitting in his chamber at the end of life simply waiting for death to arrive. Only when death comes knocking does he rouse enough to pay attention anymore.
Another possible reading is one where Poe is criticizing the end of learning or knowledge. The poem’s character is poring over old volumes of text, calling to mind Emerson’s "sepulchres of the fathers" (Nature, 1106), that are no longer valid or interesting. Perhaps Poe is calling for a new awakening in literature, science and learning, before our minds suffer a tragic death. Of course, the text could also be read from a political or religious angle.
The verse begs the question whether one should open the door and let what ever is out there in, or try to keep IT out at all cost. If it is death, do we give in or struggle for a precious little more time? If it is new knowledge do we embrace it or reject it? The Raven questions our value systems and can be applied in a number of different ways, epitomizing the empty signifier.
Check out the link I found on Wikipedia of Gustave Dore's illustration of The Raven.
ENGL 48A
Journal # 16, Poe II
November 17, 2006
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, while I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door." (1518)
This excerpt is from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, one of the most recognizable opening stanzas in American literature. A beautifully measured piece of verse, it lulls the reader into the world of the poem’s subject, and in addition, its imagery provides an instant setting.
At first glance, the verse seems to be about death, as is suggested by several clues: midnight, weak and weary, nearly napping, chamber (of death), the tapping of the other world. This seems an obvious reading of the poem: the person sitting in his chamber at the end of life simply waiting for death to arrive. Only when death comes knocking does he rouse enough to pay attention anymore.
Another possible reading is one where Poe is criticizing the end of learning or knowledge. The poem’s character is poring over old volumes of text, calling to mind Emerson’s "sepulchres of the fathers" (Nature, 1106), that are no longer valid or interesting. Perhaps Poe is calling for a new awakening in literature, science and learning, before our minds suffer a tragic death. Of course, the text could also be read from a political or religious angle.
The verse begs the question whether one should open the door and let what ever is out there in, or try to keep IT out at all cost. If it is death, do we give in or struggle for a precious little more time? If it is new knowledge do we embrace it or reject it? The Raven questions our value systems and can be applied in a number of different ways, epitomizing the empty signifier.
Check out the link I found on Wikipedia of Gustave Dore's illustration of The Raven.
# posted by Katja @ 9:08 AM 
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I could't find your link to Wikipedia (Dore, Raven), but I Googled this: http://dore.artpassions.net/. I see there that Dore illustrated not only Raven, but also Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, Paradise Lost and Inferno.
20 Points.. Love your wide open moral reading of this poem. However, do remember to mark the ends of poetic lines with a slash mark:
Once upon a midnight dreary/
While I pondered weak and weary/
as so forth....
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Once upon a midnight dreary/
While I pondered weak and weary/
as so forth....
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