Metaphors

Metaphors and similes

Several interesting metaphors are employed in Poe's poem of the raven. In the line “To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core” (l. 90), we discover a metaphor that associates the raven’s eyes with fire.

When it comes to similes, the author employs a few, some of which we present below:

• “…suddenly there came a tapping, / As of some one gently rapping…” (ll. 4-5)
• “…spoke only / That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.” (ll. 67-68)
• “On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before” (l.  72)
• “Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken” (l. 122)

Personifications and allusions

Personification is used through the raven, a bird which is given human attributes such as the power of speaking: “Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”” (l. 117)

Allusions (references to people, characters, events, books, etc.) are very common...