Introduction to Mystery and Suspense: "The Raven"

Question 1

Read this excerpt from "The Raven."What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

Revolt · Accepted Answer

scarier.

Question 2

Read this stanza from "The Raven."Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,That I scarce was sure I heard you"–here I opened wide the door– Darkness there and nothing more.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The source of the noise is not yet revealed, as no one is standing at the door.

Question 3

Read this description of the bird in the poem "The Raven."But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door–Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door– Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The poet repeats the word “perched” to show that the raven is threatening to the speaker, and this contributes to the mood of powerlessness in the poem.

Question 4

Read this stanza from "The Raven."And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtainThrilled me–filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door–Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door; This it is and nothing more."

Revolt · Accepted Answer

be afraid and unsure of what the noise really is.

Question 5

Which phrase from the first stanza of "The Raven" creates the most suspense by making a question appear in the minds of the speaker and reader?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

suddenly there came a tapping

Question 6

In the first half of the poem "The Raven," the poet creates suspense by having the reader question

Revolt · Accepted Answer

what is making the rapping sound.

Question 7

Read this line from "The Raven."And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Revolt · Accepted Answer

alliteration and rhyme

Question 8

Read this stanza from "The Raven."Then the ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore–Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Revolt · Accepted Answer

sight and sound.

Question 9

Read the first stanza from "The Raven."Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore–While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door– Only this and nothing more."

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The speaker is up late at night reading and hears a knocking sound.

Question 10

Read the excerpt from "The Raven."And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Revolt · Accepted Answer

what the curtains sound like, which creates a suspenseful mood

Introduction to Mystery and Suspense: "The Raven" Answers

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