Highlight the words, thoughts, and
actions of Edgar Allan Poe in one
color.
Highlight the words, thoughts, and
actions of John Allan in a second
color.
Use “?” for sections that are unclear.
Use “!” for sections that are fully
understood.
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Quick Discussions
1. What details about the relationship between Poe and
John Allan remain unclear after reading the letter?
2. How do you think this event might have altered Poe’s
life and future?
3. How might the biographical details about Poe’s
relationship with his foster father impact his writings?
4. Can you identify any information from either “Alone” or
“The Raven” that connects to the content of this letter?
5. Does Poe share any of the blame for the poor
relationship he had with John Allan?
Poe’s Argument - Analysis
1. What was Poe’s stated purpose for writing this
letter to John Allan?
*Copy the evidence from the text that supports
your answer.
2. List the MAIN POINTS in Poe’s argument.
*Copy the evidence form the text that supports
each of his points.
3. Which details do you think Poe included to
upset or anger John Allan?
4. Explain whether or not Poe was able to achieve
his purpose for writing this letter. Cite evidence
from the text to support your answer.
Poe’s Argument – Analysis
What TONE did Poe use when
writing the letter?
Was his TONE effective?
EXPLAIN!!!
Negative Tone/Attitude Words
Accusing Choleric Furious Quarrelsome
Aggravated Coarse Harsh Shameful
Agitated Cold Haughty Smooth
Angry Condemnatory Hateful Snooty
Apathetic Condescending Hurtful Superficial
Arrogant Contradictory Indignant Surly
Artificial Critical Inflammatory Testy
Audacious Desperate Insulting Threatening
Belligerent Disappointed Irritated Tired
Bitter Disgruntled Manipulative Uninterested
Boring Disgusted Obnoxious Wrathful
Brash Disinterested Outraged
Childish Facetious Passive
EXAMPLES of TONE
Sorrow-Fear-Worry Tone/Attitude Words
Aggravated Embarrassed Morose Resigned
Agitated Fearful Mournful Sad
Anxious Foreboding Nervous Serious
Apologetic Gloomy Numb Sober
Apprehensive Grave Ominous Solemn
Concerned Hollow Paranoid Somber
Confused Hopeless Pessimistic Staid
Dejected Horrific Pitiful Upset
Depressed Horror Poignant
Despairing Melancholy Regretful
Disturbed Miserable Remorseful
Positive Tone/Attitude Words
Amiable Consoling Friendly Playful
Amused Content Happy Pleasant
Appreciative Dreamy Hopeful Proud
Authoritative Ecstatic Impassioned Relaxed
Benevolent Elated Jovial Reverent
Brave Elevated Joyful Romantic
Calm Encouraging Jubilant Soothing
Cheerful Energetic Lighthearted Surprised
Cheery Enthusiastic Loving Sweet
Compassionate Excited Optimistic Sympathetic
Complimentary Exuberant Passionate Vibrant
Confident Fanciful Peaceful Whimsical
EXAMPLES of TONE
Humor-Irony-Sarcasm Tone/Attitude Words
Amused Droll Mock-heroic Sardonic
Bantering Facetious Mocking Satiric
Bitter Flippant Mock-serious Scornful
Caustic Giddy Patronizing Sharp
Comical Humorous Pompous Silly
Condescending Insolent Quizzical Taunting
Contemptuous Ironic Ribald Teasing
Critical Irreverent Ridiculing Whimsical
Cynical Joking Sad Wry
Disdainful Malicious Sarcastic
EXAMPLES of TONE
Neutral Tone/Attitude Words
Admonitory Dramatic Intimate Questioning
Allusive Earnest Judgmental Reflective
Apathetic Expectant Learned Reminiscent
Authoritative Factual Loud Resigned
Baffled Fervent Lyrical Restrained
Callous Formal Matter-of-Fact Seductive
Candid Forthright Meditative Sentimental
Ceremonial Frivolous Nostalgic Serious
Clinical Haughty Objective Shocking
Consoling Histrionic Obsequious Sincere
Contemplative Humble Patriotic Unemotional
Conventional Incredulous Persuasive Urgent
Detached Informative Pleading Vexed
Didactic Inquisitive Pretentious Wistful
Disbelieving Instructive Provocative Zealous
Your Turn
Rewrite Poe’s letter using a
different tone.
You must keep the same general
ideas and points of Poe’s
argument, but you must use
precise language to clearly
change the TONE of the letter.
Your Turn
Perform a DRAMATIC READING
of your letter accurately
conveying its TONE.
Annotate &
Analyze
the Poem
Read the poem and identify
the literary and poetic
elements used by Poe to
create meaning in the poem.
Write down your thought and
ideas as you read the lines.
Highlight, circle, underline,
illustrate, summarize…
Question!!!
Annotate &
Analyze
the Poem
Read the poem and identify
the literary and poetic
elements used by Poe to
create meaning in the poem.
Write down your thought and
ideas as you read the lines.
Highlight, circle, underline,
illustrate, summarize…
Question!!!
1. What do you view as the central
theme or message of the poem?
2. Which words and/or phrases best
convey Poe’s ideas and help him
achieve his purpose?
3. How does the biographical and
background information help readers
to better understand the poem?
Vocabulary Development
Select five words you encountered
while reading that would serve as
meaningful vocabulary terms.
Provide a reasonable definition of the
term, its part of speech, and an
illustration or symbol to help
represent the meaning.