NewVocabularyWords

TheValleyofUnrest
DellAsmallvalley,usuallyamongtrees.
AzureAbrightbluecolor.
Palpitate(Heart)tobeatrapidly,orirregularly.Shaking,trembling.
HebridesWide,outspreadarchipelagooffthemainlandofScotland.
MyriadAcountlessorverylargenumber.
HauntedPlace
TenantedTooccupyaresidenceasatenant.
SeraphAnangelicbeing,belongingtothehighestorderoftheninefoldcelestialhierarchy.
Porphyrogene(Inedgarallenpoe'spoem)ThedescendantsoftheKing
TheRaven
SurceaseTostop,relieve,orcease.
ImploreTobegsomeonedesperatelytodosomething.
WindowLatticeOpenframeworkonawindow,madeofmetalorgrate,crisscrossingpatterns.
SaintlySomethingsveryholey,comparingtoasaint.
YoreSomethingoflongago,orinformertimes.
TheMasqueoftheRedDeath
PestilenceAfatalepidemicordisease.
PrecinctsThedistrictofacityortownforpolicepurposes,aclosedoffbuilding.
DissolutionClosingdownthatofanassembly,partnership,orbusiness.
CountenancesApersonsfaceorfacialexpression.
SagaciousShowingkeenmentaldisconcertmentorhavinggoodjudgement.
CandelabrumAlargebranchedcandlestick,oracandleholderthatcanholdseveralcandles.
CastellatedAbbeysAbbeysisacutoffplaceofconfinement,castellatedmeaningaplaceof
battlements.
VoluptuousIndulginginluxuryortobefullofsomething,pleasure,enjoyment.
ImprovisationTheactofimprovising,executingsomethingwithoutanypreviouspreparation.
TremulousnessTremblingfromfear,sickness,orweakness.
PiquancyStimulating,interesting,orattractive.
WantonDeliberate,orwithoutbeingprovoked,somethinguncalledfor.
HerodReferringtoKingJudaea,notableforhiscruelty,andmassacreoftheinnocents.
HabilimentsClothing/accessories.
SilenceAFable
TumultuousFullofviolentandnoisycommotionduringaneventorassembly.
LoftyBeingarrogantorcondescendingacertainmanner.
PerturbedDisturbingsomething,ortothrowasituationintodisorder.
MorassLow,soft,wetground,abogormarsh.
CovertSomethingcoveredorsheltered,concealed,orsecret.
HippopotamiAlargeherbivorous,waterdwellinganimal,knownastheHippopotamusfoundin
andaroundtheriversinafrica.
TumultAviolentandnoisycommotion.
CountenanceApersonsfaceorfacialexpression.
MagiWisemen,orthosewhopossessmagicalpowers.
GeniiPluralwordforgenius.
SybilsAfemalegivenname.
DodonaAnancienttown,theoracleofZeus.

TheHauntedPalace
SummaryAsthepoemopensitstartsoutwithexplainingthatthis
palaceislocatedinabeautifulgreenvalleywhereangleslivedinthis
giantpalacewithblowinggoldenbanners,anddelightfulsmellsall
around.
Peoplethatwouldpassbythispalaceandnoticethattherewere
spiritsinsidedancingaroundthekingsthrown,singingabouthowgreat
andfantasticheis.Thenthelargedoorsofthepalaceopenedandmore
spiritsfloodedthrough,singingoverandoverabouthowgreattheirking
wasasifitwastheirjobtodoso.
Butunfortunatelyevilspiritsfloodedandattackedthepalacewith
theirpityandmourning,andsorrow.Theirevilnesswreckedthebeautiful
place,andleftthehappinesstobenothingmorethanamemory,andthe
windowsturnedred,andthesespiritsdancedoddlytonewstrangemusic,
andburstfromthethelargepalacedoorslaughinghorribly,butnot
smiling,showinghowscary,andunusualthisplacehasbecome.

Analysis
RhymeschemeABCDEFGF,thestanzadidn'trhymeuntil
towardstheendofeachstanza,usingthethirdtolastandlastwordsto
rhymeandcrateabitofamelody.
Thesoundofthepoemwasverycheeryforthefirst4stanzas,
leavingabitofthesoundofanoldstorybeingtold,italsohasthesound
ofalmostafairytalewhenlineswerereadlike,Bannersyellow,glorious,
golden...orWanderersinthathappyvalleygaveitthatchildhoodlike
feelingtome.Butinthelasttwostanzasthepoemtakesadifferentturn
andthingsstarttoturnintoanightmare,turningthehappyfeelingintoa
feelingofdreadanddespair,asthewholepoemchangedinambiance,
thestorytellsofhowevilspiritsfilledthepalacedestroyingthebeautyand
chasingpeopleaway.
Theplotofthestoryseemstotakeplaceinabeautifulgreenvalley
wheretherearenearbypathsthattradersandvillagerstakethatgoright
pastthebeautifulpalace.Asthepoemgoesitstillseemstotellthestory
fromafar,lookingthroughwindowsandhearingthemusiccomingfrom
thepalacegavemethisimpression.Iwouldhavealsoimaginedthe
travelersmovingawayasthemusicchangedandtheevilspiritstookover
andburstfromthepalace.

TheRaven
SummaryLateonenightwhileourAuthorisnoddingoff,grieving
overhislostlove,hehearsasuddentappinginhischamberdoor,he
murmuredtohimselfthatthiswasnothing,justasoundthathewas
hearing.
Asthedecembernightgoeson,thefireinhischamberdiesdown
ashementionsthecoalscastingsmallshadowsonthefloor,hewishesto
fallasleepassoonashecanbutheisstillhavinggrievingthoughtsover
hislostlovelenore.Stillasthenightwentonmorethingsstartledhim,like
therustlingofhispurplecurtains,overandoverhetoldhimselfthatitwas
justsomeonebyhischamberdoor.
Ashegathereduphiscouragetoanswerwhoeverwasatthedoor
apologizingthathehadntansweredthedoorsooner.Butasheopened
thedoor,therewasnoonethere.Ashestoodintothedarkhebecame
veryscaredandsadsuddenly,whisperingthenameLenoreintothedark.
Soonagainashegetssettledintohisroom,hehearsagainthetapping,
angrilyhegetsupandhearsitcomingfromhiswindowlattice,sohegets
upandflingsthewindowsopen.Ashedoessoinsteppsanoldragged
raven,andperchedonhischamberdoor.
Oneherealizesthattherereallyisnoharmintheoldbirdsittingon
hischamberdoor,hesmilesathimandasksforitsnametowhichtheold
birdrespondsNevermore.Ournarratordoesn'tunderstandthisanswer
butsimplypassesitoffandassumesthatthebirdwillleavebecauseallof
hisfriendsthathehashadhavelefthim.Afterhesaysthistohimself,the
birdspeaksonceagain,Nevermore.
Startledatthebirdssameresponsehecomestothinkthatmaybe
thebirdspreviousownerwasillandhadlearneditfromhimsayingitover
andoveragain.Ashesitsdowninhischairthatheremembershis
Lenorewillneversitinagainhesitsandstaresatthebirdjustasthebird
staresathim.
Soonthemanfeelsthatthepresenceofangelsarecomingbefore
him,andhecursesatthebird,callinghimanevilprophet.Heasksthe
birdifhewilleverseeLenoreagain,perhapsinheaven,andtheancient
birdreplieswiththeonlyworditknows,Nevermore.Furiouslyheyellsat
thebirdtoleave,toflyoutthewindowandnevercomeback,butthebird
replieswithNevermoreandstaysrightwhereitis.
Thenarratornowfeelsthathissoulwillneverbeliftedfromthefloor,
andhewillnotbefreedfromtheshadowoftheravennevermore.


Analysis
RhymeSchemeInthispoemPoestucktoonesimplescheme
whereeverystanzahadthesamepatternofABCBBB.
Theoverallsoundofthepoemwasverylonganddrawnout,the
longOsoundscouldbefoundinmanyofthewordsinthepoemthatheld
meaninglikeLenore,Lore,Nevermore.Byusingthesechoicesofword
andsoundsofpronunciationsImyselfgotmoreenjoymentoutofthe
feelingthatthesoundsofthewordsgavemewhenputbacktogetherin
thestory.
Theplotseemedtotakeplaceinanold,creepy,almostgothiclike
apartment,orchamberasitwasreferredto.Thepresenceofadyingfire,
orembers,alongwiththedescriptionofbleakdecembergavemetheidea
thatitwasverycold,verydark,andaveryquietlonelynightforthe
narrator.
Thepurposeofthispoemwastoexpressthenarratorssorrowofhis
lostloveLemore,overandoverallhecouldthinkofwashisdeadlover
Lenore,eachthoughtbringinghimcloserandclosertosleep,thatisuntil
theRavencametohiswindowlatticeandflewintoperchabovehis
chamberdoor.Overthelengthofthepoemheseemstogetangrier,but
yetatsomepointscalmdowntoalmosthumortheRavenandtoaskit
whyitsthere,atonepointevenaskingifhewereevertoseeLenorein
heaveneveragain.IthinktheRaveninsomewayrepresentedthedarker,
older,wiserpartofhim.HeknewhewasntgoingtoeverseeLenore
again,buthecouldntcometotermswithhimselftoacceptit,andby
comingupwiththeravenhecouldstaytruetohisfeelingsandtakeout
hispainontheraven.Althoughasheyellsattheraventoleave,itnever
does.Hewonderstohimselfifhewilleverhavehisspiritslifted,and
escapetheshadowoftheraven,orshouldIsayotherwiseknownashis
melancholymood.

TheValleyOfUnrest
SummaryTheValleyOfUnrestholdsasignificantmeaning,the
poemisaboutavalleywhichisagraveyardthatthebodiesofsoldiersa
burriedin,butthesoldiersspiritistsarestillactive,andanyonethathad
gonetheretovisitthedellcouldfeeltheactivespirits.Hethenswitchesto
tellinghowthetreesseemtoblowandswayinthewind,buthethinksthat
itsnotthewindthatismovingthetrees,buttheghostsoftherestless
spiritsthatremainedthere,healsodescribedtheheavensasunquiet,full
ofthespirits,andthatthelilieswouldweepandmournoverthefallen
soldiers,talkingofhowthedewfromtheplantsfellliketeardropsfrom
theirdelicatestems.Itwassaidthatthispoemhadcomefrommemories
whenEdgarAllenPoehadstayedwithhisfosterfamilyasanadolescent,
butithasnotyetbeenproven.

Analysis
RhymeschemeAABCDDEEFGHH,thispoemhasavery
strongrhymeschemetoitgivingitagoodflowandaninteresting,smooth
melody.
Thesoundofthepoemseemedmelancholyandsorrowful,asifthe
spiritsthemselveswerepresentwithme,readingthepoemtome.
DespaircametomymindasIreadthispoemaswell,likethespiritswere
helplessandthenaturearoundthemseemedtoweepandbecomeupset
withthembecausetheyhadbecomesorestless.
Theplotofthepoemtookplaceinaquietbeautifuldell,butbesides
thenatureandthebeauty,therewasaterriblesecretthatthesmallhill
held,abattlehadtakenplacethereandthespiritsofthedeadwerestill
awakeandmoving.throughthewholepoemthesceneneverchanges,I
thinkthisisbecausetheghostsarestuckthere,unabletoleavetheplace
oftheirdeath.

SilenceAFable

SummaryThetaleAFableisaboutaDemonwithoneeyewho
placeshishanduponthenarrator'sheadtotellhimastory.Hetellsthe
mantolisten,andrevealedwherehedwells,adrearyplacewherehe
waitsinariverwithgrosewaterfullofgiantwaterlilies.
Onenightitrained,butitrainedblood,itrainedontothedemon
whileacrimsonmoonilluminatedalargegrayrockwithrunesonitthathe
couldntmakeout.Ashewasgoingtobackintothemorassthemoon
shonefullerandreder,revealingthatthecharactershadspelled
desolation.Ashelookeduptherewasaman,atallman.Thedemonran
backtotherivertohidesohecouldspyontheman,observingthathe
wasawisemanwiththebuildofagodandafacialexpressionthat
suggestedhewasdisappointedwithmankind.
Thedemoncalleduponthehippopotamifromtheriverandhadhim
roaratthemoon,butthisdidnotscarethemanaway,hetrembledand
satupontherock.ThentheDemoncalledinastorm,lightningfell,the
riversflooded,forestsandmountainscrumbledaway,butthemansaton
therockandtrembleddespitethedemonsefforts.Frustratedthedemon
decidedtomakeeverythingasstillandasquietaspossible,ashelooked
backontotherockitreadsilence
Nowthatitwasquietthemangotupandlookedaround,therewas
nosound,everythinghadgonesilent,hebecamescaredafledfromthe
placeasfastashecould,andtherockstillreadsilence.
Nowthemaninthetombwhowasbeingtoldthestorythroughthat
thiswasthemostmiraculousstoryofanystoryevertold.Thedemon
laughedattheman,butbecausehecouldn'tlaughalongwithhimthe
demoncursedhim,andalinxthatdwelledforeverinthatcavecametosit
atthefeetofthedemonandstareathim,almostasifwonderingwhenit
wouldgetitsvoiceback.

TheMaskoftheRedDeath
SummaryThemaskofthereddeathisaboutaprinceandhis
peoplewhoareplaguedbyasicknessthatiscontagiousthroughblood,it
leftpeoplewithsharppains,dizziness,andvomiting.Oncehalfofhis
populationwasdiminishedfromtheplague,hecalleduponathousandof
hisclosestfriendsthatwereofhighstatusandlockedhimandthose
peopleawayinacastlewithwallsandgatesofiron.
Theprincebelievedthattheoutsideworldcouldtakecareofitself,
hestockedhisabbeywithenoughfoodandwaterandentertainmentto
lastuntiltheplaguehasrunitscoursethroughhiskingdom.Theonly
thingthattheydidnthavewasthereddeath.
Itwasduringthefifthorsixthmonthwhentheplaguehadreached
itsworst,bythistimethePrincewasreadytoentertainhissubjectswitha
massivemasqueradeball,towhichtherewereseveralroomsthat
connectedtogethertofinishtheballpremises.
EachroomthattherewasheldadifferentfromonewithBluewith
blurwindows,onepurplewiththewindows,onegreenaswellasthe
windows,anotherwasorange,thefifthwhite,thesixthviolet,andthe
seventhblack,althoughtheroomwasblack,thewindowdidnotmatch
theroom,thepanewerebloodred.
Nowintheroomtherewasablackgrandfatherclockthatwouldring
outonthehour,noweventhoughthiswasnormaleveryonewouldstop
andbecomeuneasy,aftertheclockrang,peoplewentbacktolaughing
andbettingeachotherthattheywouldn'tbescaredthenexttime.
Whenthelargeblackgrandfatherclockstruckmidnighteveryone
stoppedagaintowaitnervously,thensomeonerealisesthatthereisa
personherethatisdressedupinawaynobodyelsewas,theywere
dressedofacorpsethathaddiedofthereddeath(abitcreepyifyou
askedme).Tothepeoplethiscostumelookedsorealandfrightening,
nobodywouldgouptohimtounmaskhim,evenafterthePrince
Prosperoorderedthemto.Finallytheprincecouldntwaitanylonger,as
thismysteriousguestwalkedpastthePrince,Prosperobecameextremely
angry,Herantowardstheculpritthatwasheadedtotheblackroom,and
andsoonastheprincecaughtuptohim,theguestinthecostumewhirled
aroundtorevealthattherewasnoonethere,assoonasheturnedtoface
thecrowdtheprincefelldead.Thereddeathitselfhadcometotheball,
andaseveryonetherestartedtopanic,buttherewasnoescape,allthe
guestsonebyonebegantospilltheirbloodandsufferfromthereddeath,

everyonediedinthecastle,noonewassparedfromthemaskofthered
death.