1. Metaphor:
* "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary...": This sets a metaphorical tone, implying that the speaker is not just physically tired, but also emotionally burdened.
* "While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,...": This metaphorically connects the tapping at the door with the speaker's mental state, suggesting that the tapping is a manifestation of his own inner turmoil.
* "Deeper, deeper, into darkness...": The speaker's descent into madness is metaphorically described as a physical journey into darkness.
2. Simile:
* "Like a demon in his vision, I sat down, and said 'Be seated!'": The speaker's command to the raven is likened to a demonic presence, highlighting the speaker's growing paranoia and fear.
3. Personification:
* "And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting...": The raven is given human qualities, becoming a symbol of the speaker's despair and hopelessness.
* "Quoth the Raven 'Nevermore'.": The raven's repetitive response is personified, creating a sense of foreboding and the inevitability of the speaker's grief.
4. Alliteration:
* "While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping...": The repetition of the "n" sound emphasizes the rhythmic and insistent nature of the tapping, further adding to the suspense.
5. Assonance:
* "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary...": The repetition of the "e" sound creates a melancholy tone, reflecting the speaker's emotional state.
6. Onomatopoeia:
* "Tapping, tapping at my chamber door...": The sound of the tapping is recreated through words, making the reader feel the intensity of the moment.
7. Imagery:
* "Darkness there and nothing more.": This creates a vivid image of emptiness and despair, reflecting the speaker's emotional state.
* "The fire that burned so brightly...": This vivid image symbolizes the speaker's fading hope and the eventual loss of his love, Lenore.
These are just a few examples of the figurative language used in "The Raven." Poe masterfully weaves these devices together to create a poem that is both dark and beautiful, capturing the essence of grief, loss, and the speaker's descent into madness.