Bookstore Bulk Books Authors Blog

BK Blog Post

JUST FOR FUN

Crazy Literary Fact of the Day: Poe's Raven Was Originally Going to be a Parrot

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam Posted by Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, Managing Director, Editorial, Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.



Edgar Allan Poe originally wanted the bird in his now-legendary poem The Raven to be a parrot. When it comes to talking birds, of course a parrot seemed to be the right match. Poe needed a bird that would repeat the same phrase over and over--what better choice? Well, the problem was that parrots simply do not project a foreboding or menacing tone, so he settled on a raven instead. You can read more here.

Related Books

A Complaint Is a Gift
A Complaint Is a Gift

Recovering Customer Loyalty When Things Go Wrong

By Janelle Barlow, Claus Møller
Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For
Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For

A Guide for New Leaders

By William Gentry

Related Articles

Zoilist (noun): A person who thoroughly enjoys finding fault with others or in things around him or her.Say the word out loud to yourself now that you know the meaning and see how many people...
Jumentous: Pronounced /d Š’u ‹  ‹Ë†m ‰-nt ‰â„¢s/: Smelling distinctly like horse urine. Why someone saw fit to create a word that specifically identified horse urine when even humans don't...
Blesiloquent: To speak with a stutter or a lispWas it just a cruel twist of fate that this word would be a challenge to pronounce for those who have a lisp or a stutter?
Bever (noun): A snack between meals."The problem with bevers is that they end up containing more calories than meals."
Jiffle (verb): To fidget or shuffle restlesslyAn easy word to remember because it sounds like a combination of the words "fidget" and shuffle."
Bumbledom (noun): The petty actions and mannerisms of pompous but inefficient government officials.Easy to remember because it's not difficult to envision bumbling fools where you hear this word --...
Balbutiate (verb): To stammer or stutterAnd yet, try saying this word quickly, over and over, and try not to stutter or stammer.
Aprosexia (noun): Medical term describing an almost complete inability to focus or sustain attention.This word is notable for the fact that it is the most boring term to contain the word "sex."
Abligurition (verb): Spending a ridiculously large amount of money on food.This word is now considered obsolete by the Oxford English Dictionary, which is unfortunate because of the advent of...
Wheeple (verb): When someone attempts a strong and shrill whistle but the result is weak and subdued.An interesting word whose first syllable actually sounds like a weak whistle.

Shop

Support

Authors

About

Connect With Us