Text: Robert T. Kerlin, “Wieland and The Raven,” Modern Language Notes (Baltimore, MD), vol. XXXI, December 1916, pp. 503-505

[page 503:]

Weiland AND The Raven

During a recent perusal of Charles Brockden Brown's Wieland certain words and forms of expression, besides the whole atmosphere and tenor of the story, began strongly to suggest to me Poe's Raven. The further I proceeded the deeper grew the impression [page 504:] of an indebtedness, until at last I began to jot down correspondences. Some of the expressions in the novel which suggested to me the poem are the following:

“The experience of no human being can furnish a parallel” to the tale about to be told (p. 26). It is of “horrors such as no heart has hitherto conceived nor tongue related” (p. 67).

“He [Wieland] was much conversant with the history of religious opinions and took pains to ascertain their validity” (p. 42). His mind “was enriched by science and embellished with literature” (idem.)

Wieland adorned the Temple “ — his study — with a marble bust of Cicero (p. 42).

His desire for celestial illumination betrays him to deception. “How almost palpable is this darkness! yet a ray from above would dispel it,” remarks his sister. Aye,” said W., with fervor, “not only the physical but [the] moral night would be dispelled.”

Of hearing a voice W.'s sister says: “I am at a loss to describe the sensations that affected me. . . . This incident was different from any that I had ever before known. Here were proofs of a sensible and intelligent existence which could not be denied. Here was information obtained and imparted by means unquestionably superhuman.” “I threw myself in a chair that was placed opposite the door and sunk into a fit of musing” (p. 70).

“I spent the darksome hours as I spent the day, contemplative and seated at the window. Why was my mind absorbed in thoughts ominous and dreary? Why did my bosom heave with sighs and my eyes overflow with tears? Was the tempest that had just passed a signal of the ruin which impended over me?” (p. 72). She resorts to books for diversion and chances upon a German ballad of gruesome character. Soon the clock strikes twelve, she is “startled” by a whisper (p. 73). The owner of the mysterious voice, Corwin, is described as follows: “His gait was rustic and awkward. His form was ungainly and disproportioned.” Sunken breast, drooping head, and long, lank legs are distinguishing features (p. 67). His voice had an unexampled distinctness: “the modulation so impassioned that it seemed as if a heart of stone could not fail of being moved by it. . . . The tones were indeed such as I never heard before” (p.69).

“I [W.'s sister] prevailed on myself at length to move towards the closet.” She hesitates, wavers, gains courage, and, on venturing to open the door, is appalled by the cry, “Hold! hold!” When the closet door at last opens all within is darkness, the stillness is unbroken. Presently a deep sigh is heard” (p. 106).

“The apartment was open to the breeze, and the curtain was occasionally blown from its ordinary position. This motion was not unaccompanied with sound” (pp. 99, 100, 101).

“Tell me truly, I beseech you. . . . Tell me truly, are they well?” (p. 167).

“Ruffian or devil, black as hell or bright as angels. . . . Go, wretch! . . . . Take thyself away from my sight!” (p. 239).

“I adjure thee, by that God” (p. 235).

“Wilt thou then go? — leave me! succorless!” (p. 235).

“‘Wretch!’ I cried” (p. 205), (addressing another; but addressing himself:) “Wretch! (p. 165).

In numerous trifles, verbal items, and like minutiae occur coincidences. The heroine in Wieland “mutters” words to herself to which the mysterious voice gives answer (p. 202). This voice on one occasion makes itself heard through a lattice (p. 81). The following additional noteworthy words and phrases occur in common: pallid, placid, ghastly, explore, respite, demeanor, disaster, [page 505:] token, mystery, ominous, chamber door (frequently), presently (frequently the first word of a sentence in Wieland); “his silence was unbroken” (Wieland); Corwin's eyes “gleam with a fire that consumes his vitals.” Finally, “Wieland was transformed at once into a man of sorrows (p. 327).

Our conclusion must be that Poe had read Wieland with considerable attention, and that its incidents, scenes, and locutions lingered in his memory; and, what is still more important, that his imagination continued to dwell in its atmosphere of mystery, terror, and irremediable sorrow.

ROBERT T. KERLIN.

Virginia Military Institute.