Poe Texts
Nonfiction Texts and
Organizational Patterns
Read to identify and understand how and why
texts are organized differently
Who (or What) Killed
Edgar Allan Poe?
Literary Response
Read the texts carefully and identify the
possible theories and supporting evidence
contained in each text.
Evaluate the possible causes of
Poe’s death and identify the cause
you think is most believable.
State your opinion, supporting
details, and sources you found most
convincing.
Explain your thoughts and ideas and use
evidence from the texts to support your
response.
Read with a Purpose
What really happened during
Poe’s last days?
Read this selection to learn of one
writer’s ideas.
“Poe’s Final Days”
Informational Focus
A. Supporting Evidence – Why does
Snodgrass think that Poe might have been
robbed or cheated out of his clothing?
B. Main Idea – How would you paraphrase
this paragraph? In what way does
paraphrasing help you find the main idea?
C. Main Idea – How does Poe’s behavior at
the hospital support the main idea of this
selection?
D. Supporting Evidence – Why didn’t Dr.
Moran believe that Poe died of alcohol
poisoning?
“Poe’s Final Days”
Drawing Conclusions
According to Kenneth Silverman, author of “Poe’s
Final Days”, the most likely cause of Poe’s death was
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
The evidence that points to this cause includes…
*_____________________________________________
*_____________________________________________
*_____________________________________________
“Poe’s Final Days”
Drawing Conclusions
Examine each piece of evidence and state whether it is
a FACT or an OPINION.
•Does this perspective change they way you think
about Silverman’s theory? Should it?
•Is there anything you can do to clarify the
information in the text?
“Poe’s Final Days”
Drawing Conclusions
Do you agree or disagree with the theory
Silverman puts forth in the biography?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Explain why or why not.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Read with a Purpose
Read the following article for a different
account of what might have caused
Poe’s death.
“Poe’s Death is Rewritten…”
Informational Focus
A. Noting Details – Make a list of
the evidence about Poe’s
condition in this article that is
similar to that in the biography
you just read?
What evidence is different?
B. Supporting Evidence – What
supporting evidence does Jeff
Jerome offer for Dr. Benitez’s
theory?
Compare & Contrast
Analyze how the diagnosis in this article
differs from the diagnosis in the
biography. Note the evidence the author
provides for this different theory.
“Poe’s Final Days”
“Poe’s Death is Rewritten…”
•Compare and contrast the biography and the
newspaper article.
•Look at how the diagnosis for Poe’s death
differs in the two texts.
•What information is similar in both texts?
•What information is different in both texts?
•Read the quotes by Dr. Henry Wilde and Jeff
Jerome. Explain which quote best supports the
idea that Poe died of rabies.
Letters to the Editor
“If Only Poe Had Succeeded When He Said
Nevermore to Drink” page 304
A. What are “letters to the editor”?
B. Who can write a letter to the editor?
C. What new fact is presented about rabies in
this letter?
D. What qualifications do the authors of the
first letter have?
E. Complete the facts and opinion section from
this article after you have read it carefully.
Letters to the Editor
“Rabies Death Theory” page 305
A. Does knowing what happened to
Poe’s cat strengthen, weaken, or
make no difference to Dr. Benitez’s
rabies theory?
EXPLAIN your thoughts!!!
B. What qualifications does the author
of the second letter have?
C. Complete the facts and opinion
section for this article after you
have read it carefully.
Literary Response
Read the texts carefully and identify the details needed to complete the
chart. Use the text and any other materials you have to complete the
information required.
Name
of
Text
Author
Details
About
the
Author
Theory
about
Poe’s
Death
Evidence and
Support
Included to
Support the
Theory
Rank the
Evidence
and Support
from 1-10
(1-lowest,
10-highest)
The Process of Research
Respond to each question in the best way possible.
1. Which theory about Poe’s death to you find most
credible?
2. Where did the theory originate?
3. Who stated the theory?
4. What evidence was included to support the
theory you believe?
5. Why do you think this theory makes the most
sense?
6. Why do you not agree with the other theories and
evidence?
Literary Response
Read the texts carefully and identify the
possible theories and supporting evidence for
each one.
Evaluate the possible causes of
Poe’s death and identify the cause
you think is most believable.
State your opinion as well as the
supporting details you found most
convincing.
Explain your thoughts and ideas and use
evidence from the text to support your
response.