{
 "id": "edgar-allan-poe/the-raven",
 "title": "The Raven",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Edgar Allan Poe",
 "poet_slug": "edgar-allan-poe",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "The Raven and Other Poems",
 "book_slug": "the-raven-and-other-poems",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 1,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1845,
  "venue": "The Raven and Other Poems (1845)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/poeraven/menu.html"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/edgar-allan-poe_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2151",
   "https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/An_Acrostic",
   "https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(Poe)",
   "https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Serenade_(Poe)",
   "https://archive.org/details/worksedgarallan00unkngoog",
   "https://archive.org/details/cu31924019520810",
   "https://archive.org/details/jstor-2915307"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-12",
  "corrections": [
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    "line": null,
    "was": "The Raven38",
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    "why": "A Standard Ebooks endnote marker (<a epub:type=\"noteref\">) carried into the text by extraction; not present on the printed page.",
    "checked_against": "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2151",
    "date": "2026-08-12",
    "field": "title"
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 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 108,
  "n_stanzas": 18,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 77,
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As of some one gently rapping⁠—rapping at my chamber door.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“ ’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Only this and nothing more.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Eagerly I wished the morrow;⁠—vainly I had sought to borrow",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From my books surcease of sorrow⁠—sorrow for the lost Lenore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nameless here for evermore.",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thrilled me⁠—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“ ’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This it is, and nothing more.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And so faintly you came tapping⁠—tapping at my chamber door⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That I scarce was sure I heard you”⁠—here I opened wide the door:⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Darkness there and nothing more.",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Merely this and nothing more.",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Soon I heard again a tapping, somewhat louder than before.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "’Tis the wind and nothing more.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant stopped or stayed he;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Perched, and sat, and nothing more.",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Though its answer little meaning⁠—little relevancy bore;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With such name as “Nevermore.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nothing farther then he uttered⁠—not a feather then he fluttered⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Till I scarcely more than muttered, “Other friends have flown before⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then the bird said, “Nevermore.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of⁠—‘Never⁠—nevermore.’ ”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o’er,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o’er,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She shall press, ah, nevermore!",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee⁠—by these angels he hath sent thee",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Respite⁠—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!⁠—prophet still, if bird or devil!⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On this home by Horror haunted⁠—tell me truly, I implore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Is there⁠—is there balm in Gilead?⁠—tell me⁠—tell me, I implore!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!⁠—prophet still, if bird or devil!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By that Heaven that bends above us⁠—by that God we both adore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Leave my loneliness unbroken!⁠—quit the bust above my door!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the lamplight o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall be lifted⁠—nevermore!",
    "indent": 3
   }
  ]
 ]
}