Edgar Allan Poe: Author Study
Objectives:
1.
Define SYMBOLISM.
2.
Examine Edgar Allan Poe’s Background and identify key events
which influenced his work.
3. Read “The Raven” and identify its narrator and key
events and explain how SYMBOLS communicates the
poem’s theme.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does Poe use SYMBOLS to
communicate theme in his poem “The Raven”?
WARM UP: Symbolism
 Individually: Find the definition of Symbolism in your
TEXTBOOK.
 With your partner: Compare definition of Symbolism
and come up with examples of popular symbols in our
culture.
 With your pods: I will show you an image of a symbol
that we will be analyzing in the next text. Predict what
ideas this symbol might represent.
Before you DISCUSS…
 Write down ideas about what this SYMBOL might
represent in the poem we are about to discuss.
 Compare your ideas with your pod groups.
Review American Romanticism
1. 18th Century complex artistic, literary,
and intellectual movement
2. Reaction against Rationalism and
the Industrial Revolution.
3. Valued feeling over reason and
believed truth could only be arrived
through imagination.
4. Nature as superior to industry and
technology.
Identify prior knowledge about
Edgar Allan Poe
Everything I know…
EDGAR ALLAN
POE
After you watch preview video, use circle map info
to write background paragraph.
Use the following paragraph
frame:
As you watch video, fill in circle map with important
information about author’s background.
E.A. POE
_______can be described as
______. He was born
________ and spent most of his
life________. While ________,
he became interested in
________.
Additionally,
________________. His writing
attempts to ______________ by
_______________.
Can you describe Edgar Allan Poe’s background by writing
reflection. Examine Edgar Allan Poe’s Background and
identify key events which influenced his work?
_______can be described as ______. He was born
________ and spent most of his life________. While
_____________, he ___________________________.
Additionally, ________________. His works are an
example of Romanticism because ______________
_______________.
“The Raven”
SUMMARY: The narrator tries to read to keep his mind off his
lost love Lenore (she’s dead), when he suddenly hears a
“rappin’” (tapping) on his door. He opens the door and
finds no one there but a raven who perches itself atop a
bust of Athena (Goddess of wisdom and war) and keeps
repeating the word, “NEVERMORE!”
Who is the NARRATOR? Compare the STATE OF MIND of the
narrator at the beginning and THE END OF THE POEM.
What does the raven SYMBOLIZE?
Why does the raven keep repeating “NEVERMORE!”?
WHAT EFFFECT DOES THE RHYME SCHEME HAVE ON THE
TONE & MOOD OF THE POEM?
First read…
 Number the lines. 5 at a time.
 Quick-Read: 3 minutes
 Skim through the text and circle KEY words or DICTION that
convey TONE and seem important to THEMES.
 Share first annotations with your partner and decide on most
precise word to describe tone from the TONE TOOL LIST.
Second: ANNOTATE
 Underline sentences or phrases that help you
understand the text’s THEME. Use the following
questions to guide your annotations.
 What is the author’s tone? What word choices
or DICTION does he make to communicate the
appropriate tone?
 Find examples of the author’s use IMAGERY &
SYMBOLS to support his argument and
accomplish his purpose?
 How does RHYTHM & RHYME create MOOD?
 What theme or big idea is conveyed by the
poem?
Listen to “The Raven”
With your pods discuss
“The Raven”
1. Who is the NARRATOR? Compare the STATE OF MIND of the
narrator at the beginning and THE END OF THE POEM.
2. What does the raven SYMBOLIZE?
3. Why does the raven keep repeating “NEVERMORE!”?
4. WHAT EFFFECT DOES THE RHYME SCHEME HAVE ON THE
TONE & MOOD OF THE POEM?