Question

Which statement best describes Poe’s use of alliteration in this poem?

The alliteration adds to the rhythm of the poem and also emphasizes particular words.

The alliteration adds a fun, playful tone and contrasts with the speaker’s grief over the lost Lenore.

It helps with the poem’s rhyme scheme.

The alliteration is only used with emotional words to accentuate the speaker’s emotional state.

Answer 1

excerpt from "The Raven"
by Edgar Allan Poe

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 some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—

Only this, and nothing more."



Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

Nameless here for evermore.



And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—

This it is, and nothing more."



Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you "—here I opened wide the door;——

Darkness there and nothing more.



Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore!"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"—

Merely this, and nothing more.



Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon I heard again a tapping somewhat louder than before.

"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—

'Tis the wind and nothing more!"



Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Answer 2

@triciaal

Answer 3

@EclipsedStar

Answer 4

@.Sam.

Answer 5

@zepdrix @Zeronknight @SolomonZelman

Answer 6

@osprey

Answer 7

Here's my guess ...

Emotional state - fourth one down

Alliteration = repetition of letters.

"I nodded, nearly napping" = falling asleep ?
"silken sad uncertain" = not too happy ?

The poem COULD be about the mourner for beloved Lenore being visited unexpectedly by "The Raven", and he is trying to work out what the commotion is about at his window as he tries to get some possibly melancholy sleep as he pines for Lenore.
He may wonder whether the commotion is about Lenore "trying to contact him" as he stares into the night.
He may even wonder whether "The Raven" is "another incarnation of Lenore".

I've seen a couple of films with this sort of theme, one with (the wonderful) Michelle Pfeiffer who was transmogrified (is that a word ?) into a bird of prey when her lover was a man, and into a woman when her lover was transmogged into a wolf or something. The film was roughly about how they managed to "break the curse" and get all sweetie pie united.