Page 163 - SpringBoard_ELD_Grade7_Flipbook

implore: beg
countenance: face craven: coward
ACtIVItY 1.3
continued
My Notes
Interpreting the text Using Close Reading
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So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, “’Tis some visitor entreating2 entrance at my chamber door— Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more.”
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;—
Darkness there and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?” This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”—
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. “Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore— Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
̔Tis the wind and nothing more!”
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance3 made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien4 of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door— Perched upon a bust of Pallas5 just above my chamber door—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore— Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian6 shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”1
2 entreating: asking or begging for
3 obeisance: bow or curtsy
4 mein: appearance
5 bust of Pallas: a statue of Pallas Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom 6 Plutonian: of Pluto or the dark underworld
140 SpringBoard® English Language Development grade 7
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