Athena

Athena, or Pallas Athena as she was commonly called, is the Greek goddess of wisdom.  She is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, Zeus’s first spouse.  It had been prophesied that Metis would give birth to very powerful children, and Zeus feared that she would give birth to a child that would overpower him and take control of Olympus.  In order to forestall these dire consequences, Zeus tricked her into turning herself into a fly and promptly swallowed her, however it was too late; Metis was already pregnant with Athena.  In time she began making a helmet and robe for her fetal daughter. The hammering as she made the helmet caused Zeus great pain, and Hermes hit Zeus’s head with an axe, splitting it open.  Athena sprung from Zeus’s head, fully grown, armed, and armored.

Connection to “The Raven”

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he,
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door–
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door–
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted – nevermore!

When the raven enters the room he perches himself on the bust of Athena, and there he stays throughout the poem.  The narrator of the poem constantly asks him questions to which the bird only replies, “nevermore.”  This is significant because the symbolism of the bird perching himself on the goddess of wisdom implies that the raven will have some answers for the narrator, particularly concerning his lost love, Lenore; however, this is not the case.

The Atlantic Monthly Magazine

The Atlantic Monthly is a magazine first published in 1857.  It was mentioned briefly in the class, as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Ralph Waldo Emerson contributed towards it.  It’s first editor was James Russel Lowell who was an active abolitionist. The magazine focused on collecting authors of science, art, culture, and politics. Lowell endeavored to bring a medium to the young authors of America, and the Atlantic proved to be an excellent source as a journal and cultural icon.  By reaching out to young authors, The Atlantice quickly became one of the most foundational American magazines in publication.  “The Atlantic Monthly saw the first stories into print of Mark Twain, Henry James, Louise Erdrich, Sue Miller, and Bobbie Ann Mason. The Atlantic Monthly was the publisher of important essays by Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt, by W.E.B. DuBois and Martin Luther King”(1). The Atlantic first published what was soon to be known as “The Letters From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr. The Atlantic was also the magazine to publish “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” along with Deliverance by James Dickey.

The Atlantic Monthly was a journal that spanned from the time of slavery through the abolitionist movement to the civil rights movement, marking the authors who helped define America’s history. Even Emily Dickinson was involved in The Atlantic. Thomas Wentworth Higginson, an abolitionist and literary critic, wrote a piece for The Atlantic which sought to help young writers bring their work forth to be published. Dickinson, estranged form her family’s religion and seeking advice for publishing her work. She sent him some of her poems and eventually sought his advice for many years until her death.

Websites describing the history of The Atlantic Monthly

1. http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/about/atlhistf.htm

2. http://www.things-and-other-stuff.com/magazines/atlantic-monthly.html

Images

1. Http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atlantic_Monthly_1857.png

2. Http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_Hymn_of_the_Republic.jpg