The poem “The Raven”, written by Edgar Allen Poe, shows the deep depression and confusion that the narrator is going through since the death of his beloved wife. The dark setting of the poem predicts the visit of the Raven, a sign of misfortune, darkness and death. Throughout the poem, the narrator continually mourns his wife, Lenore. He secretly hopes that the Raven will bring him good news about his wife and his future; however, the Raven informs him that he will always remain depressed. Additionally, Poe uses setting, strong word choice, and symbolism to illustrate the Raven as a messenger of darkness and explain the emotional state of the narrator. Poe's description of the setting sets the mood for the story, which in turn allows readers to infer that the Raven is the bearer of bad news. At the beginning of the poem, Poe describes the specific moment with the phrase “a dreary midnight” (1). Midnight is like any typical night without any exciting or interesting events. This stillness and tranquility suggests that there is something to come in the poem. Poe goes on to mention that it was a “gloomy December,” indicating that it was a time filled with unhappiness and misery (6). When the Raven arrives, Poe describes the movement of the curtains as a “silky, sad, uncertain rustle,” which makes the setting perfect for the arrival of a dark figure such as the Raven (13). The beginning of the sets of poems adds to the mood of the story while adding to Poe's mysterious tone. Additionally, when the Raven arrived, Poe mentions that the narrator was "deep in that darkness, peering" (25). The narrator's environment in front of his door is completely dark, which is normal...... middle of paper ......ess, dark choice of words, and the Raven, symbol of trouble, to explain the state of the narrator's future after the death of his wife. The entire poem highlights the pain felt by the narrator while grieving. The Raven is the bearer of the news that he will remain in a state of deep depression for the rest of his life. Metaphorically, the Raven represents never-ending depression as darkness and sadness are present during his visit. The narrator's surroundings also indicate this, as his house, actions, and thoughts indicate that he cannot escape his depression. Poe does a great job of using setting, specific words and phrases to tell the story of a lonely, heartbroken man grieving for his beloved wife. Works Cited Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Raven.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 8th ed. Flight. 1. New York: WW Norton &, 2013. 688-91. Print