An Introduction
to the Life and
Works of Edgar
Allan Poe
OBJECTIVES/ LEARNER OUTCOMES
• The students will develop the skills to read
closely into a work of poetry. In addition, the
students will learn to analyze and interpret a
literary work, by learning and developing skills
in explication and understanding of literary
devices. These acquired skills will help
students in terms of analyzing any text, and
will help them to develop the skills necessary
to compare and contrast literature from an
academic standpoint.
Unit Plan Breakdown
• Day 1: Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe with a
descriptive biography of his life, including Power
point presentation of his life and his most
influential literary works.
• Day 2: Instructor and class will participate in an
active reading of Poe’s “The Raven”, which will
include explanations of the literary devices used
within the poem. Students will be assigned
review questions created by the instructor for
homework, due the following day for a grade.
Unit Plan (continued)
• Day 3: Instructor will have the students form
groups, switching homework with other
students throughout the classroom. Students
will then access an interactive website of “The
Raven”, which will help them get a better
grasp on the poem and literary devices.
http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/raven/s
tart-fl.html
Unit Plan (continued)
Day 4:
Day 5:
• Students are asked to get
online in class and find
another work of poetry (from
any poet they choose), which
reflects at least 3 of the same
literary devices used in Poe’s
“The Raven”. Then, the
students are asked to read an
excerpt of their choosing to
the class, explaining the way
in which these literary devices
are used in both poems,
respectively.
• The instructor allows the
students to create some form
of artistic “vision” of Edgar
Allan Poe’s “The Raven”. Each
individual student is at liberty
to use whatever form of art of
their choosing, whether it be
written, visual, or even
spoken.
METHODS/MATERIALS
•
•
•
•
Whiteboard
Laptops/computers/Internet access
Textbook/Edgar Allen Poe’s Greatest Works
Handouts/Parent Newsletter with an overview
of material covered, assignments and due
dates, and grading breakdown
• Materials needed for creativity assignments
http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/raven/s
tart-fl.html
ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION
Participation
Assignments/Requirements
• Individual- The students will be
given in-class worksheets,
homework, and participation
points
• Small groups- working together
to grade each other’s work, and
be expected to respond when
reviewed
• Classroom- The class will actively
read the poem together aloud,
with each student expected to
read an excerpt from the poem.
• The students will be graded
on their content knowledge of
Poe’s “The Raven”.
• The students will be graded
on their in-class and
homework assignments.
• The students will be required
to use their textbooks and
any other means necessary
(internet, library, etc.) in
order to thoroughly compare
“The Raven” with their
chosen piece of literature.