Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven

Celtic Puzzle

Gothic & Halloween Cryptogram

Alex M. Volker
Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven: A Synopsis

As a teacher, you know the power of a single poem to create an entire world. Edgar Allan
Poe's "The Raven," published in 1845, is a masterful example of American Gothic
literature and a perfect text for exploring themes of grief, madness, and the supernatural.
The poem, set in a chamber on a dreary December night, follows an unnamed narrator
tormented by the death of his beloved, Lenore.

His solitude is shattered by a mysterious tapping at his chamber door, which he

eventually discovers is a raven that enters and perches on a bust of Pallas Athena above
his door. The narrator, seeking an escape from his sorrow, begins to question the bird,
which can only utter one word: "Nevermore." This single word becomes a tormenting
echo of his despair, and the narrator's descent into madness is portrayed through his
increasingly frantic questions and the raven's unwavering, hopeless response. The poem
is a superb tool for teaching literary elements like mood, symbolism, alliteration, and
internal rhyme.

Context for Quotes from Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven

FROM MY BOOKS SURCEASE OF SORROW This quote shows the narrator's initial
attempt to escape his grief. He tries to find comfort and a "surcease of sorrow" by reading,
but his efforts are futile. This act is symbolic of a desperate, but ultimately powerless,
attempt to use worldly knowledge to overcome a spiritual or emotional affliction.

SORROW FOR THE LOST LENORE This line is the central source of the narrator's
suffering. Lenore, a name derived from the Greek word for "light," represents the radiant
joy and life that has been extinguished from his world. Her loss is not merely a memory,
but a haunting void that the narrator cannot fill.

WITH MY HEAD AT EASE RECLINING This quote places the reader in the narrator’s
chamber as he tries to find rest. The act of "re-clining" suggests a desire to return to a
state of comfort and peace he can no longer access. This false sense of ease is shattered
by the supernatural events that follow.

AND SO GENTLY YOU CAME RAPPING This describes the initial sound that shatters the
narrator's solitude. The "gentle" sound makes the narrator's fear all the more potent, as
he is unsettled by a quiet, unthreatening noise. This is a subtle yet profound symbol of
how grief and madness can creep into one's life quietly, before they fully take hold.

AND SO FAINTLY YOU CAME TAPPING This phrase, with its repetition of the previous
quote's sentiment, shows the narrator’s growing unease. The "faint" sound is a
psychological torment, as he questions whether the noise is real or a product of his grief-
addled mind.
TO STILL THE BEATING OF MY HEART This quote reveals the physical effect of the
tapping on the narrator. He is so terrified that his heart is pounding, and he is trying to
calm himself down before investigating the sound. This symbolizes the physical toll that
grief and psychological horror can have on a person.

THAT I SCARCE WAS SURE I HEARD YOU The narrator’s initial reaction to the sound is
one of confusion and self-doubt. He is so distraught that he questions his own senses,
blurring the line between reality and his imagination, which is a key theme throughout the
poem.

DEEP INTO THAT DARKNESS PEERING This is a moment of deep suspense. The narrator
has opened the door to his chamber but is met with an impenetrable darkness. This act
of "peering" into the void is symbolic of the narrator’s descent into his own dark and
sorrowful psyche.

AND THE DARKNESS GAVE NO TOKEN The "darkness" itself is personified here, as it
"gives no token" or sign of what lies beyond. This lack of a clear answer only adds to the
narrator’s growing sense of dread and mystery, symbolizing how grief often offers no clear
answers or signs of closure.

DARKNESS THERE AND NOTHING MORE This is a chilling and powerful statement of
emptiness. The narrator has opened the door, but all he finds is a void. This absence of a
clear answer foreshadows the lack of comfort he will find in the rest of the poem. It is a
stark symbol of the finality of death.

NOT A FEATHER THEN HE FLUTTERED This quote is the first description of the raven's
entrance. The raven enters with a supernatural stillness and grace. The fact that it doesn't
"flutter a feather" shows that it is not a normal, earthly bird, but something with a
supernatural purpose.

NOT THE LEAST OBEISANCE MADE HE This describes the raven’s lack of respect upon
entering the chamber. The bird doesn't bow or show any sign of reverence, which shows
it is not a normal bird but a gaunt and ominous presence. It symbolizes the uncaring,
unrelenting nature of fate or despair.

PERCHED AND SAT AND NOTHING MORE This is a chilling statement of the bird's
unmoving nature. It enters and simply perches, a static, unblinking presence that brings
a finality and a sense of doom to the chamber. The stillness symbolizes the unchanging,
unending nature of the narrator's grief.

GAUNT AND OMINOUS BIRD OF YORE The narrator's perception of the raven has
changed. He no longer sees it as a simple bird, but as a "gaunt and ominous" figure, an
ancient symbol of evil and death. The word "yore" suggests a timeless evil, a being that
has haunted the past and will continue to haunt the future.
SITTING LONELY ON THE PLACID BUST This quote describes the raven's perch. The
raven sits on a bust of Pallas Athena, the goddess of wisdom and reason. The raven’s
presence on her head symbolizes how the narrator's grief and madness have now
overcome his ability to think rationally.

TILL I SCARCELY MORE THAN MUTTERED This line shows the narrator’s psychological
state. He is no longer speaking with a clear voice but is muttering to himself, showing that
his mind is beginning to break under the strain of his torment. This is the beginning of his
descent into madness.

OTHER FRIENDS HAVE FLOWN BEFORE This quote, spoken by the narrator to the bird,
is a desperate plea for a moment of hope. He is trying to convince himself that the bird
will eventually leave, just as his "friends" (his hopes, dreams, and sanity) have. The
raven's response, "Nevermore," proves him wrong.

ON THIS HOME BY HORROR HAUNTED This line shows the narrator’s final state of mind.
He no longer sees his chamber as a place of solace but as a "home by horror haunted."
His internal pain has manifested into a tangible evil that now occupies his physical space.

PRESENTLY MY SOUL GREW STRONGER This is a moment of false hope. The narrator
believes that he is getting stronger and that he can overcome his grief, but the raven's
presence is a reminder that his despair is not going away. This false sense of power is a
tragic part of the narrator's journey.

TAKE THY BEAK FROM OUT MY HEART This is a powerful metaphor for the narrator’s
pain. The raven’s presence is not just a physical one; it is a psychological burden, a "beak"
that is tearing at his heart and refusing to let him heal. It symbolizes how his grief has
become a physical ailment.

THEN THE BIRD SAID NEVERMORE This is the poem's final and most iconic line. The
raven's "Nevermore" confirms the narrator's greatest fears and solidifies the
hopelessness of his situation. The poem ends with the image of eternal despair and a
final, unending stillness, symbolized by the raven's unwavering presence.

Conclusion

"The Raven" is a chilling and powerful exploration of a man's descent into madness. The
quotes presented here are a glimpse into the psychological terror that unfolds as the
narrator grapples with his grief and the maddening presence of a single, unfeeling bird.
By studying these snippets, we can appreciate the meticulous way Poe used sound,
symbolism, and a terrifyingly simple narrative to create a lasting sense of unease and
despair. The poem's enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to capture the
universal horror of a mind slowly consumed by its own sorrow.
 Quick Start Guide

• Identify the Key Band with 36 symbols (A-Z, 1-0).

• Identify the Message Band with the encoded message.
• Note the Secret Key (A and 0) to set direction: clockwise or anticlockwise.
• Please note that the indicated glyphs now become the new A and 0
• Substitute glyphs in the Key Band with pen or pencil.
• Populate all Key Band glyphs for reference.
• Match Message Band glyphs to the Key Band, identify the red herrings to skip.
• Look for common letters and glyph repeats.
• Find combinations and word patterns in both directions.
• Choose the best phrase or sentence.
• Decorate your design and share with #CelticPuzzle.
 Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
Gothic & Halloween Cryptogram

Copyright Information
Author: Alex M. Volker
Copyright © 2025
All rights reserved.
Some images contained in this publication
include the copyrighted works of other artists
and are used with permission.
The copyright for these images remains with
the original artist.
Single-User Educational License: The purchasing
teacher may use this resource for non-commercial
educational purposes in their classroom,
including reproduction, distribution, or display,
consistent with fair use under copyright law.
For permissions or inquiries, contact [email protected].
 Table of Contents

Quick Start Guide... 2

Copyright... 3

Table of Contents... 4

Features of the Celtic Puzzle... 5

The Celtic Puzzle... 7

Recognizable Glyphs... 15

Abstract Glyphs... 57

Simplified Versions and Solutions... 98

Puzzle Solutions... 119

Instructions... 128
 Features of the Celtic Puzzle

• This is a printable pdf containing code breaking puzzles.

• The pdf contains high quality imagery that can easily be zoomed into without
losing image quality.
• This ensures that the printed pages are clear and sharp.
• The pdf is not interactive but can be used in conjunction with the printed
pages.
• The images or glyphs are oriented in a circular fashion around a unique
pattern and may require rotation to match them with their counterparts.
• Solving the puzzles requires pattern recognition, memory and focus.
• The included puzzle versions provide the opportunity for various levels of
solving from basic sentence recognition to code breaking.
• Basic and advanced formats are included in the same pdf.
• The pages provide opportunity for creating art, or rough work and note
taking.
• These puzzles are suitable for independent work for various levels of
advancement and grades.
 Celtic Puzzle - Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
***** Printable Celtic Knot inspired Code Breaking puzzles containing abstract glyph cryptograms without text *****

The Celtic Puzzle

Note the puzzle elements in the images in the upcoming pages. For detailed guidance refer
to the instructions at the back and in the next few pages. In this section you will note two
puzzle varieties. The text-based versions are simpler as you can recognize the letters and
numbers, whereas the image-based glyphs are more abstract. The central pattern connects
these two and the solving methodology and solutions are the same in both these two
versions. There are pages for rough work included and an answer sheet is a lighter shade
for art
 Celtic Puzzle - Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
***** Printable Celtic Knot inspired Code Breaking puzzles containing abstract glyph cryptograms without text *****

Page 8 TPT | TES | CELTIC PUZZLE

 Celtic Puzzle - Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
***** Printable Celtic Knot inspired Code Breaking puzzles containing abstract glyph cryptograms without text *****

Page 9 TPT | TES | CELTIC PUZZLE

 Celtic Puzzle - Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
***** Printable Celtic Knot inspired Code Breaking puzzles containing abstract glyph cryptograms without text *****

Page 10 TPT | TES | CELTIC PUZZLE

 Celtic Puzzle - Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
***** Printable Celtic Knot inspired Code Breaking puzzles containing abstract glyph cryptograms without text *****

Page 11 TPT | TES | CELTIC PUZZLE

 Celtic Puzzle - Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
***** Printable Celtic Knot inspired Code Breaking puzzles containing abstract glyph cryptograms without text *****

Page 12 TPT | TES | CELTIC PUZZLE

 Celtic Puzzle - Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
***** Printable Celtic Knot inspired Code Breaking puzzles containing abstract glyph cryptograms without text *****

Look at the image on the previous page. You will notice that it is similar to the first puzzle
in this series, yet there is a difference. The left image does not contain two characters
labeled as A&0 but has a single image instead. Studying the characters on the outside you
will notice it has two rings. One ring you will recognize has an order to it. This ring
contains a sequence of glyphs which are recognizable. Looking closely, you will see an
alphabetical and numeric pattern.

The other ring contains open spaces, and the sequence is less obvious, yet the characters
used are still the same characters that appear in the other ring. Rotating the entire image
and looking at this ring you will notice that words begin to appear. You may have to look in
both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction to see them.

You will notice that the sequence of the words starts forming parts of a sentence. Once you
have identified all the words, try to extract a full phrase or sentence that makes the most
sense. Remember the order will always be the same but reading both a clockwise and
counterclockwise the solution will appear.

Once again compare this puzzle to the first puzzle in this publication. You will notice that
the message in that puzzle seems garbled. This is because that message is encoded using a
Caesar cipher or substitution cipher. This means that each character needs to be shifted by
a predictable number to become a new character.

Page 13 TPT | TES | CELTIC PUZZLE