* Repetition and Obsessive Nature: The constant repetition of "nevermore" reinforces the narrator's growing obsession with the raven and its enigmatic pronouncements. This repetition mirrors the obsessive nature of grief and the narrator's inability to escape the torment of his lost Lenore.
* Loss and Hopelessness: "Nevermore" embodies the ultimate negation of hope. It denies any possibility of comfort, reunion, or escape from the pain of loss. The narrator's repeated questioning and the raven's unwavering response hammer home the finality of Lenore's absence.
* Despair and Madness: As the poem progresses, the narrator's increasingly erratic behavior and questioning suggest a descent into madness. The repetitive "nevermore" becomes a haunting reminder of his trapped state, fueling his growing despair and ultimately contributing to his mental breakdown.
In essence, "nevermore" becomes a symbol of the narrator's descent into despair and the inescapable nature of his grief. The word's repeated echo within the poem, echoing the raven's haunting pronouncements, reflects the narrator's tortured mental state, leaving him trapped in a cycle of despair and ultimately consumed by his loss.