· What kind of poem is “The Raven”? (Narrative? Ode? Epic? Etc.) Why do you think so?
· How many stanzas does the poem contain? How many lines are in each stanza?
· Plot the rhyme scheme (end rhyme) of the first stanza of the poem.
· How does this poem sound when read aloud? Melodic? Cacophonic? What makes the poem sound the way it does?
· How would you describe the rhythm of “The Raven”?
· “The Raven” features extensive use of internal rhyme. Find and list examples of internal rhyme.
· Give at least one example of each of the following: Assonance, consonance, and alliteration.
· Describe the setting of “The Raven.” How does the setting contribute to the mood of the poem?
· Describe the speaker’s tone in “The Raven.”
· Paraphrase the literal action of the poem, stanza by stanza. What is actually going on?
· “The Raven” is full of imagery (sensory details.) List at least 3 examples of this.
· Locate and describe at least 3 allusions (references) in “The Raven.”
· Find examples of symbolism in the poem; which objects do you think are symbolic, and why do you say so?
· Look for at least 1 example of personification, and at least 1 example of either metaphor or simile.
· Notice the extensive use of repetition in “The Raven”; which words / phrases do you see repeated, and to what effect?
· Take note of the syntax (sentence structure) of the poem, as well as its language and diction (word choice.) What effect do you think these elements have on the poem?
· What would you say is the theme (purpose) of “The Raven”? Why?