Irony in Poe’s “The Raven”
 The first two lines begin with alliteration and consonance, with “silken sad uncertain”
and “Thrilled me – filled me”. There is also internal rhyme with “uncertain...curtain”
(Poe 13) and “entreating entrance” (17), but in the later part of the second line and much
of the third line, the sound patterns stop. Something familiar and constant becomes
threatening in this setting. Poe uses repetition to allow the narrator a sense of security.
The dramatic irony of this situation creates fear in the audience, because the audience
knows that it is a false sense of security, and that something horrifying is about to
happen.
 The use and repetition of the work “nevermore” is an example of irony in that the
narrator will never see his lost love Lenore but will forever be reminded of her.
 One of the more striking uses of irony is a quick, almost imperceptible reference to a
figure from Greek mythology, Pallas. In relating the raven's movements within the
chamber, the narrator describes the scene as follows:
"But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - Perched upon a
bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched , and sat, and nothing more."
Once again, the narrator is described as emotionally devastated by the loss of Lenore. In
Greek mythology, one reference to Pallus is a Titan killed by Athena, the goddess of
reason, intelligence, arts and literature [it bears reminding at this point that the scene
takes place in a study within which the narrator is contemplating "a quaint and curious
volume of forgotten lore"]. That the study should include a bust of Pallas, and that the
raven should choose that location upon which to perch, presents a scene of supreme
irony. The narrator, like Pallas, as been "killed," emotionally if not physically, by a
woman.
 Another use of irony involves the introduction of a bird where the reader would logically
anticipate another form of life. The narrator, napping in his study is suddenly disturbed
by a gentle rapping at his door. "Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber
door -- only this and nothing more." Deep in thought and apparently remorseful
regarding a lost love(?) ["the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore"],
the stage is set for the use of irony in the discovery that the tapping at the door is not from
a human visitor, but from a large black bird, the raven.