Who is the raven in poem The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe?

The raven in Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" is not a specific, named character. It's simply a raven, a bird, but it serves as a symbol for the narrator's grief, loss, and despair.

Here's why the raven's identity is ambiguous:

* No name or backstory: The raven is never given a name or any specific personality traits beyond being a black bird.

* Voice of the narrator's grief: The raven's single word "Nevermore" echoes the narrator's own feelings of hopelessness and the impossibility of ever seeing his lost love Lenore again.

* Symbol of the unknown: The raven's presence and its ominous, repetitive response can be seen as representing the unknown and the inevitability of death and loss.

Instead of focusing on the raven as a character, the poem explores the psychological state of the narrator as he grapples with his grief and the raven's presence further amplifies his despair. The raven acts as a catalyst for the narrator's emotional journey, but its own identity remains shrouded in mystery.