Revan / Raven

[darth buch]

I don't know if everyone makes this point at some stage or another, but does anyone think Darth Revan may be named after Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem 'The Raven'?

 

The poem is at-

http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/poe/works/poetry/raven.html

And you should read it if you haven't yet. It's great.

 

 

The poem uses a raven as a metaphor for the narrator's lost love, which refuses to leave his bedroom and serves as a constant reminder of his dead lover Lenore.

 

I was reading it just now and noticed that the raven is at one point described as 'this ebon bird'. Now obviously the name 'Ebon Hawk' is a reference to the 'Millennium Falcon' but maybe this and Revan's name are also Poe references.

 

Revan's all-covering black robes give him a ravenlike appearence, as well as suggesting a supernatural, wraith-like nature. The bird is compared frequently to demons in the poem, or mentioned alongside spiritual or religious images (angels, Eden and such.) Revan is the character with the strongest association with the supernatural in terms of the Force and his/her sliding between the two sides.

 

This is a weak point, but as the narrator seems not to understand the raven's motivation in taunting him due to its refusual to say anything but 'nevermore', so are Revan's reasons for turning to the dark side not explained in KOTOR1, leaving the galaxy to wonder.

 

Lastly, the bird is essentially a metaphor for the narrator's feelings of loss, which drive him to an unhinged state as the bird reminds him of his lost 'Lenore'. Now everyone Revan influences seems to have a sense of loss connected with the Dark Lord. Almost all the KOTOR 1 and 2 NPC's have their own losses that haunt them. Bastilla has a lost childhood to face up to and mourns the 'loss of such a promising young knight' as Revan. Carth, of course, has his lost wife and son. Juhani has the loss of her parents, Mission misses Griff, Canderous 'weeps for his past' etc. Also in KOTOR 2, Atton, Bao-Dur, Brianna, Disciple, Canderous, Visas, Mira, Hanharr, and of course, Kreia and the Exile, are all governed by the losses of their own pasts, which are all the result of Revan and the Exile's actions at Malachor V. Revan looms like Poe's raven as a reminder of all their personal losses, and the galaxy's loss.

 

Malak, the Exile and Kreia in particular seem to have been driven to despair and the dark side by their losses associated with Revan, much as the narrator in the poem is driven to 'shrieking' and a permanent state of terror and remorse by the raven. As the crews from each game board the Ebon Hawk, the effects of Revan's actions become apparent and bring forth memories all of their losses, forcing them to confront their pasts and some (particularly on D/S playthroughs) end up in a similar state to Poe's narrator. Perhaps the Ebon Hawk rather than Revan himself acts as the raven, reminding our two collections of tortured individuals of their missing pasts.

 

One more thing. Another weak link. In the poem Poe frequently suggests a regal or 'lordly' nature to the Raven based on its poise. Revan of course is a dark Lord, and commands huge respect (or fear) from almost every character.

 

Okay that's it. Do you folks think Revan's name is a reference to the Spiffy cleaned tombstone of one of our best writers? Or am I talking crap because I'm bored and pretentious?

Edited February 6, 2006 by darth buch

[DeathScepter]

good points. I am not surprised.

[Gabrielle]

Interesting observation.

[Masta Revan]

wow! never would have thought.

I like how you get very deep into the game and the poem at the same time

[DAWUSS]

Interesting thoughts... it does add up though. I guess the only thing missing was someone killing themself because of Revan

[DarkAngle]

Yeah, I think you are right. As I have studied the poem in great detail in college, I can see the similarities between the raven and revan.

[DarthVala]

And Revan and Raven are two close, close words. Very well put-together ideas. I believe you.

[Darth Viper]

Those are really good points. Makes me wanna read the poem over again.

[DarthVala]

Don't you mean the POEm?

[darth buch]

Ah it's a great poem. I think a lot of my points were really stretched there, but I'm glad I wrote that as I've always thought there may be some similarities to the Raven. I suppose we'll never know if any of these are deliberate references.

[CoM_Solaufein]

Quoeth the Raven nevermore!

 

Interesting similiarities.

[Xard]

And i thought Revan was Revan because it sounded cool.

 

Nice point.

[Jorian Drake]

I used Raven as my male chars name in KOTOR 1 for the 1st time, without knowing the game yet..it was funny when I learned about being Revan...somehow i feeled it way before that happened

[Khan_Mace]

feeled

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

:D felt :D

[KoToR3:hopefull]

cant stand poems to be honest, but ill add that i highly doubt Revan was named after Raven. Coincidence, is all.

[DeathScepter]

Conidence are not what is happening to whom is one is trained in the force.

[Deadly_Nightshade]

I don't know if everyone makes this point at some stage or another, but does anyone think Darth Revan may be named after Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem 'The Raven'?

 

The poem is at-

http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/poe/works/poetry/raven.html

And you should read it if you haven't yet. It's great.

 

 

The poem uses a raven as a metaphor for the narrator's lost love, which refuses to leave his bedroom and serves as a constant reminder of his dead lover Lenore.

 

I was reading it just now and noticed that the raven is at one point described as 'this ebon bird'. Now obviously the name 'Ebon Hawk' is a reference to the 'Millennium Falcon' but maybe this and Revan's name are also Poe references.

 

Revan's all-covering black robes give him a ravenlike appearence, as well as suggesting a supernatural, wraith-like nature. The bird is compared frequently to demons in the poem, or mentioned alongside spiritual or religious images (angels, Eden and such.) Revan is the character with the strongest association with the supernatural in terms of the Force and his/her sliding between the two sides.

 

This is a weak point, but as the narrator seems not to understand the raven's motivation in taunting him due to its refusual to say anything but 'nevermore', so are Revan's reasons for turning to the dark side not explained in KOTOR1, leaving the galaxy to wonder.

 

Lastly, the bird is essentially a metaphor for the narrator's feelings of loss, which drive him to an unhinged state as the bird reminds him of his lost 'Lenore'. Now everyone Revan influences seems to have a sense of loss connected with the Dark Lord. Almost all the KOTOR 1 and 2 NPC's have their own losses that haunt them. Bastilla has a lost childhood to face up to and mourns the 'loss of such a promising young knight' as Revan. Carth, of course, has his lost wife and son. Juhani has the loss of her parents, Mission misses Griff, Canderous 'weeps for his past' etc. Also in KOTOR 2, Atton, Bao-Dur, Brianna, Disciple, Canderous, Visas, Mira, Hanharr, and of course, Kreia and the Exile, are all governed by the losses of their own pasts, which are all the result of Revan and the Exile's actions at Malachor V. Revan looms like Poe's raven as a reminder of all their personal losses, and the galaxy's loss.

 

Malak, the Exile and Kreia in particular seem to have been driven to despair and the dark side by their losses associated with Revan, much as the narrator in the poem is driven to 'shrieking' and a permanent state of terror and remorse by the raven. As the crews from each game board the Ebon Hawk, the effects of Revan's actions become apparent and bring forth memories all of their losses, forcing them to confront their pasts and some (particularly on D/S playthroughs) end up in a similar state to Poe's narrator. Perhaps the Ebon Hawk rather than Revan himself acts as the raven, reminding our two collections of tortured individuals of their missing pasts.

 

One more thing. Another weak link. In the poem Poe frequently suggests a regal or 'lordly' nature to the Raven based on its poise. Revan of course is a dark Lord, and commands huge respect (or fear) from almost every character.

 

Okay that's it. Do you folks think Revan's name is a reference to the Spiffy cleaned tombstone of one of our best writers? Or am I talking crap because I'm bored and pretentious?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I like it...

 

Deadly_Nightshade

[darth buch]

Thanks.

 

Conidence are not what is happening to whom is one is trained in the force.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Just a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.

[DeathScepter]

You will be surprised with a very resourceful Force user can do.

[Dark_Raven]

Revan, Raven a minor change of letters nothing more.

 

But it is an interesting observation none of the less.

[Jorian Drake]

feeled

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

:D felt :D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If yuu zay so, I dunno anny angelishe

 

:D

[Jorian Drake]

Revan, Raven a minor change of letters nothing more.

 

But it is an interesting observation none of the less.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes....who would have guessed that Revan hides under the mask of a forum moderators alias "

[Gabrielle]

[Masta Revan]

Well its about time that Alen Poes poems comes to use and a lot of thought. Cause before this I didn't give a care.

[Gabrielle]

Edgar Allen Poe is a good dark poet. Read his works and become better for it. People need to read the classics out there instead of the trash that comes out in our times.