er...”, he is again giving another symbol (Thompson, 7). Midnight and December both symbolize closure, as midnight is the last hour of the day and December is the last month of the year. Kenneth Silverman connected the use of December with the death of Edgar’s mother (Silverman, 241), who died in that month; whether this is true or not is, however, not significant to its meaning in the poem. “Midnight” and “December” could also represent the anticipation of something new, a change to happen. Symbolism can also be seen in the chamber. The chamber in which the narrator is in is used to give a sense of the loneliness of the man, and the sadness he feels from the loss of beloved Lenore. The room is well furnished, and this reminds the narrator of his lost love, which creates an effect of beauty in the poem. The storm outside is used to signify the isolation of the man. It shows a big difference between the calmness and stillness in the chamber and the harsh and wild storm outside. The language used by the raven is also utilized to give the piece a melancholic tone. In this poem it’s important to answer the questions that are already known, to create a picture of the self-torture in which the narrator endures. This way of interpreting signs are "one of the most profound impulses of human nature" (Quinn, 441). Repetition of “Nevermore” impedes the speaker’s mindfulness in all actions, and baffles him into a victimized state of mind. The raven speaking, especially the sole phrase in the refrain is very important, for the exchange of conversation would not go on without the person or thing having something to respond to. The poem has a series of consecutive stanzas ending with the line “Quoth the Raven Nevermore”, which establishes the unchangeable Page 6supremacy of the raven, and causes the melancholic condition of the man. The word nevermore also has a lot to do with t...
