提供全套畢業(yè)設(shè)計(jì)，歡迎咨詢本科畢業(yè)論文題目：論中西方文化中烏鴉意象的文化意義學(xué)院：外國語學(xué)院專業(yè)班級：英語0601班學(xué)號：2006344010130學(xué)生姓名：指導(dǎo)教師姓名：指導(dǎo)教師職稱：講師二O一O年六月十二日OntheImageofCrowinChineseandWesternCultureAGraduationThesisSubmittedbyWangYanjiaoInPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsForTheDegreeofBachelorofArtsIntheSubjectofEnglishLanguageandLiteratureToCollegeofForeignLanguagesOfAgriculturalUniversityofHebeiSupervisor:LiYaminJune12,2010CandidateSupervisorTableofContentsAcknowledgements i摘要 iiAbstract iii1Introduction 12TheAnalysisofCrowinChineseCulture 12.1ThePositiveMeaning 12.1.1Themysteriousbird 22.1.2TheFilialBird 32.2TheNegativeMeaning 42.2.1TheComingoftheNegativeMeaning 42.2.2TheSymbolofDeathandCalamity 52.2.3TheSymbolofDrift,DesolationandGrief 63TheAnalysisofcrowinWesternculture 73.1ThePositiveMeaning 73.2TheNegativeMeaning 83.2.1TheComingoftheNegativeMeaning 83.2.2TheSymbolofDeathandCalamity 94Conclusion 11Bibliography 12PAGEiiiAcknowledgementsFirstofall,Iwouldliketoexpressmyheartfeltgratitudetomysupervisor,ProfessorLiYaminforhiswarm-heartedencouragements,valuableinstructionsandthoughtfulcommentsforthisthesis.HisguidanceandencouragementhavemadethisthesisabetteronethanIcaneverpossiblyproduce.AndIamalsoextremelygratefultoalltheprofessorsandteacherswhotaughtmeandenlightenedmeinthepastyearsofmystudyattheAgriculturalUniversityofHebei.Theirlectureshavelaidthesolidfoundationforthisthesis.Then,Iwouldalsoliketogivemyspecialappreciationtomyclassmatesandroommatesfortheirpatienceinhelpingmecollectmaterialswithoutwhichmypaperwouldnotbefinishedsosmoothly.Finally,Iwanttotakethisopportunitytothankmyfamilymemberswhohavegiventheirsupportandencouragementduringthefouryearsofmyundergraduatestudy.WangYanjiaoJune12,2010【摘要】古今中外，鳥和人類的生存與發(fā)展息息相關(guān)。在人類漫長的歲月里，各民族的人們有意或無意地把鳥類人格化或神靈化，并依據(jù)鳥類的外貌和習(xí)性等特征賦予他們特定的寓意來寄托自己的感情，而烏鴉正是其中一個(gè)典型的例子。它是中西方文化，尤其是文學(xué)作品中重要的禽鳥意象，其身上承載的意義豐富多彩，并受不同歷史時(shí)期的影響而不斷變化，但總體被賦予了積極意義和消極意義面。本文將就著兩個(gè)方面做逐一探討，以期更好的理解烏鴉意象在不同文化中的內(nèi)涵。【關(guān)鍵字】中西方文化；烏鴉；烏鴉意象；文化意義【Abstract】Thebirdsarecloselyconnectedwiththesurvivalanddevelopmentofhumanbeingsinmoderntimesorancient,inChinaorinabroad.Duringthelongyearsofhumanhistory,peopleofdifferentnationspersonifyanddeifythebirdsconsciouslyorunconsciously.Andpeoplefocusontheirfeelingsbygivingthebirdssomespecificimplicationsaccordingtotheappearancehabitsandcharacteristicsofthebirds,andatypicalexamplefoewhichisthecrow.ThecrowistheimportantbirdimageintheChineseandwesternculture,especiallyintheliteraryworks.Anditcarriestoomuchhumanemotionandthereprehensivemeaningofitiscolorfulandrich.Bythedifferenthistoricalperiodsanddifferentculturalinfluences,thecrowsaregivenavarietyofimages.Butallinall,nomatterinChinesecultureorinwesternculture,thecrowisacontradictoryimage;thatistosay,therearetwosidesofit:thepositivemeaningandthenegativemeaning.Thispassageisbasedonthetwosidestoprobeintothecrowinculture.Itisthepurposeofthispapertomakeastatementofthemonebyone,onlythroughdetailanalysiscanreadersobtainfurtherappreciationandbetterunderstandingoftheirculturalcononation.【KeyWords】Chineseandwesternculture;crow;theimageofcrow;theculturalmeaningPAGE131IntroductionByprobingintotheculturalconnotationofcrow,thispaperstatesthateachwordnotonlybearstherationalmeaningwhichishumanbeingsunderstandingoftheobjectiveworld,butalsoconcentratestheculturalmeaninginhumansocialpractice,whichisresultofthesyntheticeffectsofmanyfactors,suchasculturalbackground,folkcustom,etiquette,niceornastypsychology.Everythinghasitsorigin.NomatterinChineseorinwesternworld,thesignificanceofcrowexperiencestheprocessofchanging.InChina,astocrow’sreputation,alotofpeoplehavealreadybeenfullofsensesofdetestingtosuchhastyandcarelessandwickedbirdwithuglyappearanceininfluencingbythesurroundingssincechildhood,butoncespeakingtothepigeonormagpie,wewillputanotherperspectivelookatonce.ButintheTangDynasty,thecrowwasoncethatonekindwasconsideredastheluckybird,thewindingevolutionofitsreputationhassomethingtodowithit’smoralandpersonificationwiththepeopleatthattimetoo,fromwhichwecanalsoseealotofpopularitytogothroughtheintegrationofsociallifetoadapttotheprevailingmoralorderandpoliticaldemands.However,thedevelopmentofcrowinwesternisnotastwistasinChina.Yet,italsoconveysthepositivemeaningaswellasthenegativemeaning.LikeinChina,thecrowisaverycompleximageinwesternculture.Itisnotonlythesymbolofwisdomandintelligence,butalsothesymbolofdespairanddeath.Thecrowhasalonghistory,andithaswitnessedthedevelopmentandprogressofhumancivilization,itsimagesareoftenseeninChineseandforeigncultures.Infact,ithasfarexceededitsbiologicalsignificanceasabird,carryingtoomuchhumanemotion,anditisspokenbymenofletterstoexpresstheirfeelingsunfailingly.Bythedifferenthistoricalperiodsanddifferentculturalinfluences,crowsaregivenavarietyofimages.Butallinall,nomatterinChineseandnegativemeaningofit:thecrowisacontradictoryimage,thatistosay,therearetwosidesofit:thepositivemeaningandthenegativemeaning.Thispassageisbasedonthetwosidestoprobeintothecrowinculture,sothatitisgoodforpeopletounderstandtheconnotationofcrowindifferentculture.2TheAnalysisofCrowinChineseCulture2.1ThePositiveMeaningIntheheartsoftheChinesepeople,thecrowhasbecomeanominoussign.However,inhistory,datingbacktotheoriginandevolutionoftheraven,wewillfindthatitsculturalsymbolismisrathercomplextransformation.Atfirst,thecrowhasthepositivemeaning,anditisseenasthemysteriousandfilialbird.2.1.1ThemysteriousbirdRavensareconsideredasolarsymbolinChinesemythology.Whydopeoplerelatetheraventothesuntogether?AtfirstpeoplelinkingtheraventoUkraine,isbasedontheprimitivesimplicityoftheoriginalperiodofthinking,sunworship,theYitribebirdtotemworshipandsunspotsandblackgasphenomenathroughancientthinkingconsolidationtogether,andeventuallybecomeYangWuasamyth.Thecrowintheancientpeople’sheartissacred.AsthegreatworkoftheMountainandSeaClassicssay:湯谷上有扶木,一日方至,一日方出,皆載于烏?！墩摵狻ふf日篇》云:“儒者曰:‘日中有三足烏,月中有兔?！盩hemeaningisthat,inthesuntherearetwoimagestherabbitandthecrow,andintheancientpeople’heart,thesunisthedefiedandworshipfulimage.Fromthatwecanseethepositionofthecrowinancienttimes.Intheunearthedrelics,thereisthefigureofraven.InYangshaoculture,thepotteriesarepaintedaflyingraven.ChangshaMawangduiunearthedthetomboftheinitialperiodofwesternHanDynastymarchionessXinzhui.Therepaintsapicture.Onthecover,therestandsagoldenUkraineinthesun.Thepaintingdepictsthethreeworlds:thehell,theearthandtheheaventhattheexpressionoftheancientsthoughtoflifeanddeath.Attheheaven'spart,andthestrangeninesunshineintheboughs,locatedabovethesolarmaximum,andagoldenravenstandsamongthesun.Thehavenisaplacewherepeopleimaginehavingbetterlife.Xinzhuiwantshersoulcanentertohaven,andhastheeternallife.Thereisnodoubtthatthegoldencrowisadivinebird.SowecanseethattheearlyWesternHanDynastyistheinheritedthefaithbeliefoftheoriginalancestors.Crowisasecretandfulloflegendarybird,insuchmaterials,themostfamousexampleisthegreatthinkerofConfuciusandValorofthe3000soldiersofthe"LegendsoftheRaven".Accordingtothelegend,afterConfuciustravelaroundtheworld,thereputationandfameisknownbymostofpeopleandhismanydiscipleshavebeentheministersofthevassalstates,sothathispoliticalviewsgraduallyimplementedinthevassalstates.Thisendangerstheinterestsofthevassalstatesownministers,inparticular,especiallyintheStateofLu.Therefore,theyaredoingeverythingpossibletolookforopportunitiestoattempttomurderConfucius.Oneday,ConfuciusandhisdiscipleshuntintheNepalesemountains,suddenly,fromallaroundanumberofbanditryrushtothem,andhisdiscipleswhosufferheavycasualtiesandlaunchadesperatestrugglewiththebanditry.Inthecrisismoment,therearecountlesscrowssuddenlyfromheaven,theyquicklyrushtothebanditry,andusetheirmouthorclawtoattacktheenemy'seyes,whichmakethebanditryblind,andmakethemfled.Confuciusandhisdisciplesaresavedatlast.Fromthenon,wheneverConfuciustravels,thereisalwaysagroupofcrowshoveringabout,escortingtoConfucius,inthelegend,thecrowbecometheprotectorofConfucius.2.1.2TheFilialBirdInthetraditionalancientChineseculture,thecrowisconsideredafilialbird.Itissaidthatafterthelittercrowisgrownupbyhismother,andwhenhismotherisoldandfeebleandcannotfly,hewouldflyouttofindfoodandfeedbacktohismother.Thisspiritiscalledthecrowfeedback,whichisontheappetitethefilialspiritwhichadvocatebytheConfuciusdoctrine.ThisisChina'sfeudalrule,underthedynasticadvocacytomatchtheConfucianculture,XiaoisthecornerstoneofChinesemoralethics,startingfromtheConfucianpreciselytodefinethevirtuesoffilialpiety,parentsasalife-giving,andtendingto,notonlyhavealoving,butalsohelptheirchildrenandotherstoestablishtheinitialconnectionandcontact,therefore,theConfuciusadvocatesthatweshouldrespectourteachersandweshouldholdourspiritualvirtuesloyalty,whicharetheextendedofthefilialpiety.Andfilialpietyhasthesamestructureandnatureofthefittness.WhentheConfucianismestablishesthedominatedpositioninHandynasty,"filialpiety"becometheConfucianfamilyethicspromulgatedbythecorecontent,butrosetopoliticaldiscourse,andcreatestheofficialtitleof"giveXiaolian",whichisamajoreventinChinasinceancienttimes.Itmusthavemiraculousbeginningofalltopromotethe"filialpiety"ofcourse,butwhocanreceivethiskindofresponsibility.Althoughthedeclineofthesunmyth,themythaboutthesunbirdsinpeople'svisiongraduallydisappeared,thebirdasthegodofthesunbirdstillremains.So,naturallythecrowbecomesthe"dayAkitaka"messenger.Althoughthisisamysterioussaying,itgivesaUkraine'sbiologicalinstincttoexplanationofethics,andfurthertothemystery.Inaddition,thereisanotherwork《藝文類聚》saysthat“日中三足烏之精，降而生三足烏?！盜tmeanstheessenceofthesunistheUkraine.Asthecrow,peoplehavealwaysbeenlinkedwiththesun,soitsshapeisalsograduallydeifiedbythepeople,thecrowsaidtobeathree-legged,anditsemergenceasamorepoliticallysigns.Ancientliteraryworksas"WuBirdaffair",thecrowfeedtohismother.Thereisalsotheworkaboutthispoint.InJindynasty,limiwroteALettertoHisMajestysaid:“NowYourMajestyisrulingthecountryontheprincipleoffilialpiety.Oldpeopleofhighvirtuearebeingtakencareofandwellprovidedfor.ItisapparentthatIammoredistressedthanothers.Besides,outofvainglorytosecureahighpositioninthegovernmentregardlessofmypersonalintegrity,Iservedinthelastdynastyduringmyyouthasshangshulang,andnow,I,acaptive,aslave,amgettingundeservedfavorfromYourMajesty.HowdareIhesitateandcherishanyaspirations?Butmygrandmotherisatherlastbreath,andsheislikethesettingsunbeyondthewesternhills.Herlifeisatstakeandshemaydieatanymoment.Butforher,IwouldnothavebecomewhatIamtoday.Butforme,shewouldhavebeenlongdead.ItisbecausethetwoofusdependuponeachotherthatI,yourhumbleservant,cannotleavehomeatpresent.Iamforty-fouryearsofageandmygrandmotherisninety-six.AheadliemanyyearsduringwhichImayfaithfullyserveYourMajesty,butthereremainonlyafewbriefmomentsduringwhichIcanservemygrandmother.Giventhateventhecrowlooksafteritselderly,IprayYourMajestywillallowmetostaywithmygrandparentuntilherlastbreath.2.2TheNegativeMeaningEverythingchangesalways,andwiththedevelopmentofsociety,thecrowcarriestoomuchthehumanemotion,theculturalsignificanceofitbeginsstreaming;thesanctityofthecrowbegintodecline.Thenegativemeaningisthemajoraspect.2.2.1TheComingoftheNegativeMeaningHowever,withthehistoricalchanges,associaldevelopmentandpeople'sunderstandingandprogress,theculturalsignificanceofcrowsbeginstreaming;thesanctityofthecrowbegintodecline.InQuYuan'sworks,theimageofcrowre-launcheswiththeuglyappearance.Thecrow’symbolmeaningbegintochangeclearly.Itdoesn’trepresenttheethicofthesun-bird,andgraduallygrowsandeventuallythecrowbecomesanominousbirdwhichisthemajorculturalsignificance.Theevilsignificanceofcrowbegintothedominatestreaming.Thereasonsarevarious.Firstisprobablybecausethecrow’sbiologicalappearancewhichissodarkandugly,andthebiologicalinstinct,theinfestedenvironment.Ontheotherhandisprobablytheindifferenceofabirdtotemworshipinpeople'spsychologicalsense,thecrowdoesnothavetheancientmysteryacolor.Atthesametime,itisalsofoundthatthecrowisnotfeeding,thenthemysteriousofcrowwouldbegonewhichisgivenbytheConfucianethic.Crowexperiencedtheevolutionoftheculturalconnotationof"Thesunbird-birdfilialpiety-theevilbird"whichalsoreflectsthepeople'sunderstandingofthenaturalhabitsofthecrow,withthedevelopmentofsociety,people'slevelofawarenessandmindcontinuetoprogress,fromthenaturebindinggraduallysetfreefromthenatureworshiptore-examinetheworld,andrecognizepeople'sownstrengthandpower,andthusthestatusofdivinityinnaturebegintofalter,andtheheromythandheroworshipbegintoappear,thatalloftheseverifiesthehumanbeingsprogress.ThemostfamousexampleisHouyishootingthesunwhichverifiesthedecliningofthesun’sstatus.Themyth"GodsetUkraineon"NaturegraduallyreducesfromthehighaboveworldlyGodpoultrybirdsandevenuglyevil.Inaddition,togetherwithself-awakeningofhumanconsciousness,peoplebegintoquestionthepowerofGodandbegintopaymoreattentiontotherealityandlife,notworshipforthemyth.FromtheSongDynasty,thecrowbegininChinatohaveaverybadreputation,peoplehaveastrongaversionandcontempttoit,treatingitsanevilbird.2.2.2TheSymbolofDeathandCalamityCrowalwaysconnectswiththedessert,battlefieldandsolitarytempletocreatethedesolateddeterioratedenvironment,implyingthemeaningofthecountryruinsthefamilyperishes.Duetothegoodscavengers,thecharacteristicsofcrowsgatherinthewildernesslikethewildmounds,deadbodieslyinghereandthere,andmakingallsortsofvoices.Thiscloselylinkstothedeathunderthesituationofmakingallsortsofvoice.Thereisthefeelingoffearandtremblinginpeople’smind.Thus,intheclassicalpoetrythereisanimageofUkrainianfamine.InruralChina,crowhasbecomeasymbolofdeath,peopleshunit,driveitaway,andkillitasanaturalthing.OnTV,movies,theimageofcrowisalsocommonlyusedtoexpresstheominous,tragicscene.Evenwiththecrow-relatedvocabularyandproverbsaremorederogatory,suchas"crowmouth""crowlandedonapig""adisorderlybandofpeople""Evilpeoplearesanelybadallovertheworld.","crowstaketheleadmusthavebeennodisaster"andsoon.Theseideasaftertheestablishmentbypopularusageoracceptsthroughthecommonpractice,andgraduallydevelopintoanationalmentalconsciousness,thatis,WuTitrillionfierce,andplustheblackappearanceofcrow,whichisevenmorestrongemotionally.Ifthemenwhowanttosetoffduringthemarchheardcrow,thenmoralewilldrop.Andthenthemysteriouspowerofluckhasturnedoff,anditportendsabadoutcome.What’smore,thecrowalwayseatsthepeople’slaborfruit,sothedisgustingsenseofpeopletoitisstrongerandstronger.2.2.3TheSymbolofDrift，DesolationandGriefThecrowimageandeveningcombinedtoconveythefeelingofbeingback,whichisacomplexcanbesaidthataculturalpsychologyofournation,asearlyasthespringandautumnperiod,thiskindofcombinationappearedinpersonforpregnantsunset.Asthecrowandotherbirdshasthehabitofmovingoutandcominginlate,whenpeopleseethemountainair,thesunsetlightandbirdsflyinghometogethernaturallythoughtoftheoldforestandhome,sothemissingcomplextriggeredunderthecircumstancesinthesunset.ThemostnotablypoetryiswrittenbyMaZhiyuan:天凈沙秋思枯藤老樹昏鴉小橋流水人家古道西風(fēng)瘦馬夕陽西下斷腸人在天涯AUTUMNWrittenbyMaZhiyuan

TranslatedbyWengXianliangCrowshoveringoveroldtreeswreathedwithrottenvine—thedayisaboutdone.Yonderisatinybridgeoverasparklingstream,andonthefarbank,aprettylittlevillage.Butthetravelerhastogoondownthisancientroad,theweatwindmoaning,hisbonyhorsegroaning,trudgingtowardsthesinkingsun,fartherandfartherawayfromhome.Thepoetrywithafewofwordspaintsableakautumnwind,takingatrip.Wecanimagine,thereisstillcapableoftreesforcrowtobeingback,butforthewanderingman,itisdifficulttofindaroadtogohome.Howmiseryandhelplessitis.What’smore,thepoemsalwaysusethewusoundtoconnectwiththemoonlightandsettingsunandotherimagestocreateableakmix,sadatmosphere.Thereisapoemthat楓橋夜泊月落烏啼霜滿天，江楓漁火對愁眠。

姑蘇城外寒山寺，夜半鐘聲到客船。ANightMooringByMapleBridge

WrittenbyZhangJi

TranslatedbyWangDalian

Moon'sdown,crowscryandfrostfillsallthesky;

Bymaplesandboatlights,Isleeplesslie.

OutsideSuzhouHanshanTempleisinsight;

Itsringingbellsreachmyboatatmidnight.Inthispoem,intheautumnnight,thepassengervisitsfromtheoutside.Thereisamapleparked.Thesunhasbeenfallen,andthecrowsound,andtheskyisfulloffrost,therivermapleandthelightcomefromthelittlefishingboat,thiscoldautumnnightfishingvillageandstayedwithaboatfromhome,lettinghimfeelhowsaditis.Thepoemwriteswhatheseesandwhathehears,andthefeelingofhisisobvious.Whatasadmapitis.3TheAnalysisofcrowinWesternculture3.1ThePositiveMeaningThecrowshowsremarkableexamplesofintelligence,andAesop’sfableofthecrowandthePitchershowsthathumanshavelongviewedthecrowasanintelligentbird.Inthefable,athirstycrowcomesuponapitcheracrow,half-deadwiththirst,comesuponapitcherwhichhadoncebeenfullofwater;butwhenthecrowputitsbeakintothemouthofthepitcherhefoundthatonlyverylittlewaterwasleftinit,andthathecouldnotreachfarenoughdowntogetatit.Hetried,andhetried,butatlasthadtogiveupindespair.Thenathoughtcametohim,andhetookapebbleanddroppeditintothepitcher.Thenhetookanotherpebbleanddroppeditintothepitcher.Thenhetookanotherpebbleanddroppedthatintothepitcher,againandagain.Atlast,hesawthewatermountupnearhim,andaftercastinginafewmorepebbleshewasabletoquenchhisthirstandsavehislifewithwateratthebottom,beyondthereachofitsbeak.Afterfailingtopushoverthepitcher,thecrowdevisesacleverplan:itdropsinpebbles,onebyone,untilthewaterrisestothetopofthepitcher,allowingthecrowtodrink.Thecrowinthisfableisanimageofwise.Excessivethirstdoesnotmakethecrowloseitsmind,butpromoteittothinkandfinallyitfindsagoodway.3.2TheNegativeMeaningManymythstellhowthecrowwasonceawhitebird,butitwaspunishedforsomewrong-doinganditsfeathersbecameblack,oftenthroughburning.

Crows,andespeciallyravens,oftenfeatureinEuropeanlegendsormythologyasportentsorharbingersofdoomordeath,becauseoftheirdarkplumage,unnervingcalls,andtendencytoeatcarrion(includingthoseofhumans).Theyarecommonlythoughttocircleabovescenesofdeathsuchasbattles.3.2.1TheComingoftheNegativeMeaningTheBible(Genesis,chapter8:6-13oftheOldTestament)tellshowbirdsaresentbyNoahtodetectwhetherthereisanydrylandoutsidethearkthathehadbuilttowithstandtheFlood:AttheendoffortydaysNoahopenedthewindowofthearkwhichhehadmade,andsentfortharaven;anditwenttoandfrountilthewatersweredriedupfromtheearth.Thenhesentforthadovefromhimtoseeifthewatershadsubsidedfromthefaceoftheground;butthedovefoundnoplacetosetherfootandshereturnedtohimtotheark,forthewaterswerestillonthefaceofthewholeearth.Soheputforthhishandandtookherandbroughtherintothearkwithhim.Hewaitedanothersevendaysandagainhesentforththedoveoutoftheark;andthedovecamebacktohimintheevening,andlo,inhermouthafreshlypluckedoliveleaf;soNoahknewthatthewatershadsubsidedfromtheearth.Thenhewaitedanothersevendays,andsentforththedove;andshedidnotreturntohimanymore.Theravenwasthefirstbirdtoseethenewworldafterthefloodandiftheravenhadre-enteredtheark,hewouldhavecorruptedit,sincehewas“unclean.”Ravensareconsideredanuncleanbird.Theyeatmostlycarrion.Thedoveisanemblemofagracioussoul,that,findingnosolidpeaceofsatisfactioninthisdeluged,defilingworld,returnstoChristastoitsark,astoitsNoah,itsrest.Thecarnalheart,liketheraven,takesupwiththeworld,andfeedsonthecarrionitfindsthere.Soitisrevealingthattheravenissometimesviewedasanevilbirdsinceitdidnotimmediatelyreturn,butthe"toandfro"oftheaboveRevisedStandardVersionseemstoindicatethatitwasengagedinitsproper“housekeeping”activitiesascarrionbird.3.2.2TheSymbolofDeathandCalamityInWesternculture,acrowisalsousedasasymbolofdespairanddeath.Theravenisoftendepictedinclassicliterature.WilliamShakespearereferstotheravenmoreoftenthantoanyotherbirds;workssuchasOthelloandMacbethprovideexamples.InCharlesDickens'novelBarnabyRudge-ATaleoftheRiotsofEighty,theraven"Grip"isanimportantcharacter.Inotherworksofliterature,ChristopherMarlowe'splayTheJewofMaltaandEdmundSpencer'sTheFaerieQueene,theraven'sdarklyominousimageisalsoemployed.InTheHobbitbyJ.R.R.Tolkien,Ro?csonofCarcistheleaderoftheRavens.Inthewell-knownballadTheThreeRavens,aslainknightisdepictedfromthepointofviewofravensthatseektoeathimbutarepreventedbyhisloyalhawks,houndsandleman(lover).Thefirstname"Bram"isderivedfromaconvergenceoftwoseparateetymologicalsources,onebeinganabbreviationof"Abraham",buttheotherbeingtheGaelicword"bran",meaning"raven".AmericanwriterEdgarAllanPoe'spoemTheRaveninominousbirdtocrowforthesustenanceofthebereavedgriefanddespair,thepoemcoveringthedesolateatmosphereofrepressionofthepoemthepoetcrowshaveanswertoallquestions"Nevermore"toexpressthedespairofthepoet'spessimism.EdgarAllenPoe’sTheRaven(1845)sitseternally"OnthepallidbustofPallas"--thatis,apalemarblehead-and-shouldersofAthena,Greekgoddessofwisdom.Thebird'smessage,"Nevermore"isapowerfulreminderofimpermanencewhichmotivatesustoseekandattainwisdom.However,thislargestblackbirdisalsoseenasacreatorandprotector.TheRavenfollowsanunnamednarratorwhositsreading"forgottenlore"asamethodtoforgetthelossofhislove,Lenore.A"rappingathischamberdoor"revealsnothing,butexciteshissoulto"burning".Asimilarrapping,slightlylouder,isheardathiswindow.Whenhegoestoinvestigate,aravenstepsintohischamber.Payingnoattentiontotheman,theravenperchesonabustofPallas.Amusedbytheraven'scomicallyseriousdisposition,themandemandsthatthebirdtellhimitsname.Theraven'sonlyansweris"Nevermore".Thenarratorissurprisedthattheravencantalk,thoughitsaysnothingfurther.Thenarratorremarkstohimselfthathis"friend"theravenwillsoonflyoutofhislife,justas"otherfriendshaveflownbefore"alongwithhisprevioushopes.Asifanswering,theravenrespondsagainwith"Nevermore”.Thenarratorreasonsthatthebirdlearnedtheword"Nevermore"fromsome"unhappymaster"andthatitistheonlyworditknows.Evenso,thenarratorpullshischairdirectlyinfrontoftheraven,determinedtolearnmoreaboutit.Hethinksforamoment,notsayinganything,buthismindwandersbacktohislostLenore.Hethinkstheairgrowsdenserandfeelsthepresenceofangels.Confusedbytheassociationoftheangelswiththebird,thenarratorbecomesangry,callingtheravena"thingofevil"anda"prophet".Asheyellsattheravenitonlyresponds,"Nevermore".Finally,heaskstheravenwhetherhewillbereunitedwithLenoreinHeaven.Whentheravenrespondswithitstypical"Nevermore",heshrieksandcommandstheraventoreturntothe"Plutonianshore",thoughitnevermoves.Presumablyatthetimeofthepoem'srecitationbythenarrator,theraven"stillissitting"onthebustofPallas.Thenarrator'sfinaladmissionisthathissoulistrappedbeneaththeraven'sshadowandshallbelifted"Nevermore".Theraven,asymbolofdeath,tellsthemanhewillneveragain("nevermore")seehisbeloved,neveragainholdher–eveninheaven.Themotifofthe“devil-beast”astheharbingerofmiseryandsorrow,foundhereintheformoftheraven.InTheRaven,theebonybirdstandsastheembodimentofgriefcausedbylonelinessandseparation,referencingnotonlyPoe'sfascinationwiththeimageryof