Ever since I had done my piece for one of my first illustration pieces last year, I've had a fascination with Edgar Allan Poe and his work. I love his "The Raven" poem and would like to do it for the next 'project'.
This is because I am still unsure of how to approach Pride and Prejudice as it's quite a long quote, and something from The Raven would contrast strongly with what I've got already as it's dark and mysterious. I did scribble a little sketch of an idea right near the beginning of this project, so if I already had ideas of it, why not do it?
Before I dive into the sketching process I'll first read through the whole poem to ensure that I understand it completely so that I could hit the right connotations in my design. From what I already know the poem is based around the raven that comes knocking on the narrator's door, although I can't really remember why...
The Raven - from http://poestories.com/
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 stillness 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.
Soon again I heard 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 a minute 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.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore-
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door-
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."
But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered-
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown before-
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore-
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never- nevermore'."
But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
On this home by Horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore-
Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore-
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting-
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted- nevermore!
Notes
Instead of writing in great paragraphs I shall just write some quick notes on some of the words that I either don't understand or thought were important in this poem.
Pallid Bust of Pallas
"Pallid" - pale
"Pallas" - Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom.
Lenore
Dead wife of the narrator, often referred to as the "maiden" and an "angel". Still mourns for her, and called out her name (possibly thinking it was her ghost coming to visit him). He asks the Raven if he is able to see Lenore in the afterlife of which the Raven replies, "Nevermore" which angers him.
The Raven
Appears kingly, powerful, when it first fluttered through the door, "the mien of lord or lady". Afterwards the narrator thinks he is some messenger sent by Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld - "... Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
He only uttered the word "Nevermore" at first, and this made the narrator think that the raven was mocking him - "But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling" and "What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore." After this the narrator describes him as being more fowl and unholy, and yet despite his fixation on the raven he still thinks about Lenore (his lost wife). He then thinks that the raven was sent as a reminder of Lenore and that God was punishing him.
Even though he shouts at the raven to leave him alone the raven carries on being perched on the pallid bust of Athena.
The use of a raven in this poem could be due to superstitious reasons and it's connection to death and the afterlife. In Norse mythology Odin had two ravens, Huginn representing thought and Muninn representing memory. If Poe did use some hints of Norse mythology the raven could actually be a representation of Thought and connects to him through the memories of Lenore. In Irish and Welsh mythology, one of the main characteristics of ravens is prophecy.
Ravens, however, were branded as bearers of bad news in other myths such as Greek myths where Apollo turned the crow/raven (they are often confused) black after it bore him the news that one of his lovers had married someone else. They are also linked to death in Celtic mythology as Celtic war goddesses often took the guise of ravens.
The use of a raven in this poem could be due to superstitious reasons and it's connection to death and the afterlife. In Norse mythology Odin had two ravens, Huginn representing thought and Muninn representing memory. If Poe did use some hints of Norse mythology the raven could actually be a representation of Thought and connects to him through the memories of Lenore. In Irish and Welsh mythology, one of the main characteristics of ravens is prophecy.
Ravens, however, were branded as bearers of bad news in other myths such as Greek myths where Apollo turned the crow/raven (they are often confused) black after it bore him the news that one of his lovers had married someone else. They are also linked to death in Celtic mythology as Celtic war goddesses often took the guise of ravens.
Aidenn
Arabic word for heaven/paradise.
Mind Map
I created a mind map from what I have learnt about the poem so far in order to generate some initial ideas.
Existing Designs
I just quickly wanted to draft a mood board of all of the existing pieces for The Raven, just so that I could spot any trends and reoccurring characters. I can then compare my design to these existing one later on once I've done it.
image sources: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5: unknown) (6: unknown)
Reflective Thinking - A Summary
I decided to analyse further into the use of the raven in this poem because the raven is the main focus, and so I would like to draw connections from that and Lenore, the narrator's lost wife. By doing this I can understand why the raven was used and the overall 'grim' atmosphere it brings. At first I thought that it was simply because ravens were bad omens but looking further into the poem and picking it apart I learn that it has a deep connection to memory, especially the memories of Lenore. There is a high contrast between a seemingly "dumb" creature and the bust of Athena and it hints at the intelligence the bird actually has in its choice of words (well, word).
I am glad that I looked further into the meaning behind the poem because even though I might still draw the raven, I might not emphasise on the fact that it was a bringer of bad news but the fact that it represents memories. I am not quite sure how I will do this but I might not make my design as sinister as I initially would've done.
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