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Summary of "The Raven"

Stanza 8:

  Then the 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 Plutonian shore!"

  Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Paraphrased Stanza 8:

  Then the black bird turned my expression from one of sadness to a smile

  Simply by the grave and stern mannerism of the face it wore,

  "Though your brow is cut short and shaved, you, "I said, "are definitely not afraid,

  Frighteningly grim and ancient Raven, coming from the shores of darkness-

  Tell me what you are called in dark Hades!"