... pause for an instant. But, with the air of a lord or lady, he perched above my chamber door upon a bust of Pallas (39-40). He perched and sat there, and nothing else (42). Then this black bird, deceiving my sad state into smiling, by the serious ... a heartbeat and the reader's own heartbeat increases during this poem. Since the poem is dealing with death, the quickening of the heartbeat enhances the meaning behind "The Raven."" Sound plays an important part in the poem, but so does the imagery. The first line begins, "Once upon a midnight dreary, ... to the humor and simplicity of th...

• Word Count: 2508
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School