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lastlib

(22,978 posts)
Wed May 27, 2020, 12:00 PM May 2020

My quarantine challenge for myself:

To re-memorize "the Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe.

Had to learn it in high school (forty years ago!) and recite it for speech contest. I still remember a lot of it, but looking at it, was surprised at how much I had forgotten. Wow. Could be daunting.

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My quarantine challenge for myself: (Original Post) lastlib May 2020 OP
Once you spend a little time 2naSalit May 2020 #1
That's what I expect. lastlib May 2020 #2
I hear you! 2naSalit May 2020 #3
Sing the verses sarge43 May 2020 #4
The lost verse... flotsam May 2020 #5
Never heard that one! lastlib May 2020 #6

2naSalit

(86,036 posts)
1. Once you spend a little time
Wed May 27, 2020, 12:09 PM
May 2020

working on that, it will come back to you easily. That's happened to me with pieces of music I had memorized, I mean the whole thing, every instrument's part and all that... came back to it decades later and could recall quite a bit but there were big chunks missing from my immediate memory. But after a rehearsal or two, it all came back.

lastlib

(22,978 posts)
2. That's what I expect.
Wed May 27, 2020, 12:50 PM
May 2020

It's been many years since I've had the urge to go back thru it all the way, so there wasn't much need to retain it. But it's still there, I just need to re-train the synapses.

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
4. Sing the verses
Wed May 27, 2020, 02:12 PM
May 2020

Make up your own melody, doesn't matter what.

That helps embed them in memory. If it works for you, the first few notes will bring up the complete poem.

It's the bards and minstrels did. They didn't recite; they sang.

flotsam

(3,268 posts)
5. The lost verse...
Wed May 27, 2020, 03:13 PM
May 2020

As I stroked myself for solace
as a novice without knowledge
moving hand that gave me mem'ries
mem'ries of the the lost Lenore...

lastlib

(22,978 posts)
6. Never heard that one!
Wed May 27, 2020, 05:18 PM
May 2020

Interesting! It could be interpreted somewhat, um, lasciviously dontcha think? Where did you find it?

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