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Literary
July 2, 1850
The Arkansas Banner
Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
What is this article about?
A humorous parody of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven,' reimagining the poem's eerie atmosphere as a mundane encounter with rats disturbing the narrator while reading old papers in an office.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Parody.
The following parody on Poe's poem, "The Raven," is not bad:
"Once upon an evening dreary, while I pondered, lone and weary,
over many an olden paper, reading forgotten stories o'er;
suddenly I heard a curious, lonely, ghostly, strange, mysterious
grating underneath the floor—only this, and nothing more.
And again I trimmed the taper, and once more resumed my paper—
aged, forsaken, antique paper—poring its ancient contents o'er:
when the same mysterious grating, somewhat louder than before—
and it seemed like some one sawing wood beneath my office floor;
'tis no mouse, thought I, but more.
As I listened, each particular hair stood upright, perpendicular—
cold, outstanding drops orbicular, strange, mysterious terror,
filled my soul with fear and horror such as I never felt before;
much I wondered what this curious grating meant beneath the floor!
Thus I sat and eyed the floor.
And thus watching, gazing, pondering, trembling, doubting, fearing, wondering,
suddenly the wall was sundering, as for Banquo's ghost of yore—
and while gazing much astounded, instantly therefrom there bounded,
a huge Rat upon the floor!
Not the least obeisance made he, caring naught for lord or lady,
but a moment stayed he, and nothing more.
And while gazing at each other, suddenly out sprang another,
somewhat grayer than the other, with the weight of years he bore;
then with imprecations dire, high I raised my boot and higher,
and a step advancing nigher, whirled it across the floor;
but the little imps had scattered, and the door was bruised and battered—
that I hit and nothing more."
The following parody on Poe's poem, "The Raven," is not bad:
"Once upon an evening dreary, while I pondered, lone and weary,
over many an olden paper, reading forgotten stories o'er;
suddenly I heard a curious, lonely, ghostly, strange, mysterious
grating underneath the floor—only this, and nothing more.
And again I trimmed the taper, and once more resumed my paper—
aged, forsaken, antique paper—poring its ancient contents o'er:
when the same mysterious grating, somewhat louder than before—
and it seemed like some one sawing wood beneath my office floor;
'tis no mouse, thought I, but more.
As I listened, each particular hair stood upright, perpendicular—
cold, outstanding drops orbicular, strange, mysterious terror,
filled my soul with fear and horror such as I never felt before;
much I wondered what this curious grating meant beneath the floor!
Thus I sat and eyed the floor.
And thus watching, gazing, pondering, trembling, doubting, fearing, wondering,
suddenly the wall was sundering, as for Banquo's ghost of yore—
and while gazing much astounded, instantly therefrom there bounded,
a huge Rat upon the floor!
Not the least obeisance made he, caring naught for lord or lady,
but a moment stayed he, and nothing more.
And while gazing at each other, suddenly out sprang another,
somewhat grayer than the other, with the weight of years he bore;
then with imprecations dire, high I raised my boot and higher,
and a step advancing nigher, whirled it across the floor;
but the little imps had scattered, and the door was bruised and battered—
that I hit and nothing more."
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Poem
What keywords are associated?
Parody
Raven
Poe
Rats
Office
Grating
Horror
Literary Details
Subject
Parody On Poe's 'The Raven'
Form / Style
Parodic Verse In The Style Of 'The Raven'
Key Lines
Once Upon An Evening Dreary, While I Pondered, Lone And Weary, Over Many An Olden Paper, Reading Forgotten Stories O'er;
Suddenly The Wall Was Sundering, As For Banquo's Ghost Of Yore— And While Gazing Much Astounded, Instantly Therefrom There Bounded, A Huge Rat Upon The Floor!
But The Little Imps Had Scattered, And The Door Was Bruised And Battered— That I Hit And Nothing More.