To what extent is the symbolism in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' responsible for its continuing popularity and success? [approx 1540 words]

Edgar Allan Poe, one of the world's most famous horror writers and the man credited with inventing the modern detective story, was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19th 1809. His short life ended at age forty but in these forty years Poe led an eccentric life, battled alcoholism and wrote some of America's most famous pieces of literature. Throughout his life Poe wrote over twenty short stories and composed many poems, all in the Gothic …

…be the work of a 'cursed poet' and this is seen by the raw human emotion and self torture displayed in the poem. The most likely reason behind The Raven's continuing success is that most readers will recognise a trait of their own in the narrator, whether it be the isolation or self loathing and, for this reason, The Raven continues to not only attract but to touch readers over 160 years after its first publication.