The Raven

by Edgar Allan Poe

The Raven: Style 1 key example

Style
Explanation and Analysis:

Stylistically, “The Raven” reads more as poem than prose. While the story is swift-moving and narrative-driven, the careful craft of its language relies on heavily poetic devices like rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration.  Consider the opening lines, with alliterative consonants bolded: 

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--

Only this and nothing more."