The Raven

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The Raven - Poe

The Raven

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.
“‘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 mortals 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.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
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 lamplight gloated o’er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight 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 lamplight 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!

1845

Ворон

Раз, когда в ночи угрюмой я поник усталой думой,
Средь томов науки древней, позабытой с давних пор,
И, почти уснув, качался, – вдруг чуть слышный звук раздался,
Словно кто-то в дверь стучался, в дверь, ведущую во двор.
“Это гость,” пробормотал я, приподняв склоненный взор, –
“Поздний гость забрел во двор.”

О, я живо помню это! Был декабрь. В золе согретой
Жар мерцал и в блеск паркета вкрапил призрачный узор.
Утра ждал я с нетерпеньем; тщетно жаждал я за чтеньем
Запастись из книг забвеньем и забыть Леноры взор:
Светлый, чудный друг, чье имя ныне славит райский хор,
Здесь – навек немой укор.

И печальный, смутный шорох, шорох шелка в пышных шторах
Мне внушал зловещий ужас, незнакомый до сих пор.
Так, что сердца дрожь смиряя, выжидал я, повторяя:
“Это тихо ударяя, гость стучит, зайдя во двор,
Это робко ударяя, гость стучит, зайдя во двор:
Просто гость, – и страх мой вздор.”


Наконец, окрепнув волей, я сказал, не медля боле:
“Не вмените сна мне, сударь иль сударыня, в укор.
Задремал я, – вот в чем дело! Вы-ж стучали так несмело,
Так невнятно, что не смело сердце верить до сих пор,
Что я слышал стук!” – и настежь распахнул я дверь во двор:
Там лишь тьма: пустынен двор.

Ждал, дивясь я, в мрак впиваясь, сомневаясь, ужасаясь,
Грезя тем, чем смертный грезить не дерзал до этих пор.
Но молчала ночь однако; не дала мне тишь ни знака,
И лишь зов один средь мрака пробудил немой простор:
Это я шепнул: “Ленора!” Вслед шепнул ночной простор
Тот же зов: и замер двор.


В дом вошел я. Сердце млело; все внутри во мне горело.
Вдруг, опять стучат несмело, чуть слышней, чем до сих пор.
“Ну,” сказал я, “верно ставней ветер бьет, и станет явней
Эта тайна в миг, когда в ней суть обследует мой взор:
Пусть на миг лишь стихнет сердце, и проникнет в тайну взор:
Это – стук оконных створ.”

Распахнул окно теперь я, – и вошел, топорща перья,
Призрак старого поверья – крупный, черный Ворон гор.
Без поклона, шел он твердо, с видом лэди или лорда,
Он, взлетев, над дверью гордо сел, нахохлив свой вихор –
Сел на белый бюст Паллады, сел на бюст и острый взор
Устремил в меня в упор.


И пред черным гостем зыбко скорбь моя зажглась улыбкой:
Нес с такой осанкой чванной он свой траурный убор.
“Хоть в хохле твоем не густы что-то перья, – знать не трус ты!”
Молвил я, – “но вещеустый, как тебя усопших хор
Величал в стране Плутона? Объявись!” – Тут Ворон гор:
“Никогда!” – сказал в упор.

Я весьма дивился, вчуже, слову птицы неуклюжей, –
Пусть и внес ответ несвязный мало смысла в разговор, –
Все-ж, не странно-ль? В мире целом был ли взыскан кто уделом
Лицезреть на бюсте белом, над дверями – птицу гор?
И вступала-ль птица с кличкой “Никогда” до этих пор
С человеком в разговор?


Но на бюсте мертвооком, в отчужденьи одиноком,
Сидя, Ворон слил, казалось, душу всю в один укор;
Больше слова не добавил, клювом перьев не оправил, –
Я шепнул: “Меня оставил круг друзей уж с давних пор;
Завтра он меня покинет, как надежд летучих хор:
‘Никогда!’” – он мне в отпор.

Перевод Л.Голохвастова (1936)

The History of “The Raven”

“The Raven” is one of the most famous poems written by Edgar Allan Poe, an American writer, poet, and literary critic. It was first published on January 29, 1845, in The Evening Mirror.

The poem quickly brought Poe widespread recognition and established him as a literary celebrity, even though he continued to struggle financially.

Poe, known for his fascination with the macabre and gothic themes, crafted “The Raven” to evoke emotions of melancholy and despair.

The poem’s haunting narrative, combined with its lyrical rhythm and use of repetition, made it an instant classic.

Poe himself described the work as an exploration of beauty intertwined with sorrow, stating that its theme is the “death of a beautiful woman,” which he considered the most poetic topic.

About the Poet: Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) was a literary pioneer whose works left a lasting impact on horror, mystery, and gothic literature.

Born in Boston, Poe faced numerous hardships throughout his life, including the loss of his parents at a young age, financial instability, and struggles with addiction.

Despite these challenges, Poe became a master of psychological depth in his stories and poems. He is often credited with inventing the modern detective story, influencing writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.

His notable works include The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Cask of Amontillado. Tragically, Poe died at the age of 40 under mysterious circumstances.

The Meaning of “The Raven”

“The Raven” explores themes of grief, loss, and the human struggle to find meaning in despair. The poem narrates the story of an unnamed protagonist, mourning the loss of his beloved Lenore, who is visited by a mysterious raven.

The bird, with its repeated utterance of the word “Nevermore,” becomes a symbol of unrelenting sorrow and the permanence of loss.

Key interpretations of the poem include:

  1. Grief and Memory: The protagonist’s yearning for Lenore represents the deep pain of losing a loved one. The raven serves as a cruel reminder that no solace or reunion is possible.
  2. The Nature of Death: The poem delves into the inevitability and finality of death, symbolized by the raven’s unyielding refrain, “Nevermore.”
  3. Psychological Struggle: The protagonist’s dialogue with the raven can be seen as an internal battle with his own despair, guilt, and longing. The bird may represent his subconscious, repeatedly denying him peace.
  4. Symbolism of the Raven: Traditionally associated with mystery, darkness, and death, the raven in this poem embodies the relentless nature of grief and the inability to escape it.

The poem’s structure, with its hypnotic meter and rhyme scheme (trochaic octameter and internal rhymes), enhances its eerie and melancholic tone.

Poe’s meticulous crafting of the atmosphere—blending the supernatural with psychological depth—has cemented “The Raven” as a masterpiece in American literature.

Would you like me to analyze specific stanzas or provide additional interpretations?

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