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Summary of "The Raven"

Stanza 11:

  Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

  "Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,

  Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

  Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore--

  Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

  Of 'Never--nevermore.'"

Paraphrased Stanza 11:

  I was so startled by the word breaking through the silence with such precision that

  I said, "what it says is probably the only thing it can say,

  He picked it up from some unhappy owner who was

  Hounded constantly by disaster after disaster, until everything he said reflected his unhappiness;

  Till the sad songs of his lost Hope sang only

  Of 'Never--nevermore.'"

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