Initial Fascination:
* The speaker is initially intrigued by the raven's arrival, viewing it as a symbol of mystery and potential wisdom. He welcomes it into his home, finding comfort in its presence.
* Lines: "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, / Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore..."
Shift to Curiosity and Hope:
* The speaker, desperate for solace from his grief over Lenore's death, asks the raven questions, hoping for some guidance or insight.
* Lines: "Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" / Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Frustration and Anger:
* As the raven repeatedly utters "Nevermore," the speaker becomes increasingly agitated. He feels trapped by the bird's pronouncements and frustrated by its inability to offer any real comfort.
* Lines: "Prophet! said I, thing of evil! prophet still, if bird or devil! / Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore..."
Despair and Acceptance:
* By the end of the poem, the speaker's initial fascination has turned into despair. He recognizes that the raven is a symbol of his own inescapable sorrow and embraces the futility of his situation.
* Lines: "Into this night of the despairing, into this night of the dying, / Starless and breathless and blind!"
The Poem's Structure:
Poe uses the raven's consistent response of "Nevermore" to drive the speaker's emotional journey. Each repetition of the word adds to the speaker's growing sense of hopelessness. This creates a powerful sense of claustrophobia and reinforces the theme of the poem: the enduring nature of grief and the futility of seeking comfort from it.