Raven and The Philosophy Of Composition

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <div class='tnotes covernote'> <p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber's Note:</strong></p> <p class='c000'>The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> </div> <div class='nf-center-c1'> <div class='nf-center c001'> <div><span class='xxlarge'>The Raven</span></div> <div><span class='large'>and</span></div> <div><span class='xlarge'>The Philosophy of Composition</span></div> </div></div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/i_001.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='figcenter id002'> <ANTIMG src='images/i_004.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> <div class='ic002'> <p><em class='ic005'>Copyright 1906 by The Harwell-Evans Co.</em><br/><br/><em>Lenore</em></p> </div> </div> <div class='figcenter id002'> <ANTIMG src='images/i_005.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div> <h1 class='c002'><span class='color_red'>The Raven<br/> <span class='small'>and</span><br/> <span class='xlarge'>The Philosophy of Composition</span></span></h1></div> <div class='nf-center-c1'> <div class='nf-center c003'> <div><span class='small'>By</span></div> <div><span class='large'>Edgar Allan Poe</span></div> <div class='c004'>Quarto Photogravure Edition</div> <div><span class='small'>Illustrated from Paintings by Galen J. Perrett</span></div> <div><span class='small'>The Decorations by Will Jenkins</span></div> </div></div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/i_007.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='nf-center-c1'> <div class='nf-center'> <div>Paul Elder and Company</div> <div><span class='small'>San Francisco and New York</span></div> </div></div> <div class='chapter'> <h2 id='Contents' class='c005'>Contents</h2></div> <div class='lg-container-b c003'> <div class='linegroup'> <div class='group'> <div class='line'><SPAN href='#Foreword'>Foreword</SPAN></div> <div class='line'><SPAN href='#Philosophy'>The Philosophy of Composition</SPAN></div> <div class='line'><SPAN href='#Raven'>The Raven</SPAN></div> </div></div> </div> <div class='pbb'> <hr class='pb c004' /></div> <div class='chapter'> <h2 id='Foreword' class='c005'>Foreword</h2></div> <p class='c006'>The initial intention of the publishers to present “The Raven” without preface, notes, or other extraneous matter that might detract from an undivided appreciation of the poem, has been somewhat modified by the introduction of Poe’s prose essay, “The Philosophy of Composition.” If any justification were necessary, it is to be found both in the unique literary interest of the essay, and in the fact that it is (or purports to be) a frank exposition of the modus operandi by which “The Raven” was written. It is felt that no other introduction could be more happily conceived or executed. Coming from Poe’s own hand, it directly avoids the charge of presumption; and written in Poe’s most felicitous style, it entirely escapes the defect—not uncommon in analytical treatises—of pedantry.</p> <p class='c000'>It is indeed possible, as some critics assert, that this supposed analysis is purely fictitious. If so, it becomes all the more distinctive as a marvelous bit of imaginative writing, and as such ranks equally with that wild snatch of melody, “The Raven.” But these same critics would lead us further to believe that “The Raven” itself is almost a literal translation of the work of a Persian poet. If they be again correct, Poe’s genius as seen in the creation of “The Philosophy of Composition” is far more startling than it has otherwise appeared; and “robbed of his bay leaves in the realm of poetry,” he is to be “crowned with a double wreath of berried holly for his prose.”</p> <div class='nf-center-c1'> <div class='nf-center c001'> <div><span class='xlarge'>The Philosophy of Composition.</span></div> </div></div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/i_011.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='figcenter id003'> <ANTIMG src='images/i_013.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='chapter'> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />