While the narrator is sitting in his library reading, he catches from the corner of his eye an old man. When he gets up to investigate he notices one of his books missing. Confused, he calls his butler, the butler lies and says he does not know. Three days later, he sees the man again. This man again takes a book, one that is suppose to be immovable. Again he calls his butler and tells him all he has seen. In exchange the butler tells him of the Legend surrounding the library and how he had thought the Old Man had been forgotten, whom we learn was called Mr.Raven. They promise to keep this a secret between the two of them.
About a week later, the old man appears, but this time he leaves the library and heads up toward the attic. The narrator follows him. In the attic he comes upon an old-fashioned mirror. On top stood a black eagle with outstretched wings, in his beak a golden chain, from whose end hung a black ball. Staring at the mirror, and without warning the narrator is suddenly standing in another world in a wild country, but he believes he has just stepped through a picture. While trying to get a better look of what was before him in the distance, he notices something coming towards him, a raven. It is only when he trips and falls onto the hard earth that he realizes he is no longer in his house.
Shocked, startled and confused, the narrator tries desperately to figure out if what he is experiencing is a dream or reality or something in between. Not knowing what's going one he asks aloud "How did I get here?" and is immediately answered. Confused because he does not see another human being around, he soon realizes his question was answered by the raven, and sets out having a conversation with the raven.
The raven eventually walks away and after some time the narrator follows, finding himself in a forest that eventually leads him back home.
The next day, the narrator goes about his usual day when it suddenly starts to pour. While staring out the window to watch the shower, he perceives Mr. Raven heading his way. Mr. Raven entered the house and without a word walked toward a door, which the narrator opens for him that leads to outside. Mr. Raven just stared at the weather without making a move to leave. When the narrator decides to strike up a conversation. When the rain stops Mr. Raven tries to convince the narrator to go back. When the narrator still refuses, the raven asks him to just step into the garden and the narrator obliges.
The raven then proceeds to pull a worm out of the ground throw it into the air and instantly change into a butterfly and without realizing it, is back in that strange world.
Mr. Raven tells the narrator that he has no idea as to who he is and must discover that before he can go home. Also, many days have passed since he was in the strange world, because time does not exist there.
The narrator, whom we learn is called Mr. Vane decides to stay in the other world for the adventure he will experience.
So, now Mr. Vane and Mr. Raven journey to Mr. Raven's home. Or rather his wife's home, that she calls the Sexton's Cottage. There he is given some bread to eat and wine to drink, and when he starts to feel sleepy they lead him to his couch.
