October 19, 2011 Do Now: 2 to a group Take out Power Paragraph Pick up a “The Raven” packet Take out a pen/pencil

Edgar Allan Poe Father of the horror story

Edgar Allan Poe January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) American author and poet Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre (ma-ka-bruh gruesome, horrible death) Inventor of the detective fiction genre and contributed to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

“The Raven” written in 1845 Follow along as you listen to the reading of Poe’s famous poem, “The Raven” If you feel bold, make some close reading notes Think about it… what inspired Poe to write this poem?

Close Reading Example It must be at night. Why is he weak? Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, It must be at night. Why is he weak? Sounds like he is deep in thought even though he isn’t feeling well Lore- a tradition, wisdom or teaching.

Close Reading Each group of 2-3 will complete a close reading of two assigned stanzas. You should be discovering… What is the imagery? What is the mood? What do you think it means? Once finished, write in the corresponding flow chart square what the stanza was about Remember, read, reread… if you do not know a word… look it up!

Poe Panel: Experts on Poe-try Do Now: Take out “The Raven” packet Sit with your group… you will be presenting and explaining your stanzas to the class TAKE GOOD NOTES ON EACH STANZA. There will be a quiz next week… possibly open note…

Stanza 1 The narrator is someone who feels tired and weak and who has possibly stored to fall asleep while reading in the middle of a gloomy December night. He passes the time by reading a strange book. Suddenly, he thinks he hears someone at his door. He explains to himself that it is nothing more than a late visitor knocking at his door.

Stanza 2 It is December, and a fireplace had been lit, but now the fire was going out, and it cast an eerie glow. To escape his sadness, the speaker has been reading to find something in his books that would take his mind off his lost love, Lenore. He reveals that Lenore has died when he says that the angels call her by name

Stanza 3 The sound of the curtains as they move makes him nervous. The speaker tries to calm down by telling himself twice that the tapping noise (introduced in stanza one) is only the sound of a visitor knocking on his door and “nothing more.”

Stanza 4 The speaker calls out to the supposed visitor. But when he opens the door he finds only “darkness there and nothing more”

Stanza 5 He stands looking out of his door, transfixed by the “darkness,” the “silence,” and the “stillness” while his imagination increased. Finally he whispered the name of his deceased lover, “Lenore,” and he heard it echoed in the night.

Stanza 6 He returns to his room, but the tapping sound resumes, even louder, and the speaker determines this time to investigate the window.

Stanza 7 The speaker finally reveals the source of the mysterious tapping noise—a bird. Upon opening the window, the speaker discovers a Raven who flies in and sits on top of the speaker’s “bust of Pallas.”(also known as Athena goddess of wisdom).

Stanza 8 The bird’s dramatic presence makes the speaker forget his sadness for a while. He compares the bird to a Lord (royalty). He also suggest that the bird may come for the underworld (land of the dead).

Stanza 9 & 10 He talks about the bird’s reply to his previous question making no sense, but then he asks another questions in which the bird’s reply does make sense. He asks the bird if he will leave him, just as other friends have. The bird replies “nevermore”

Stanza 11 & 12 This time the speaker is startled to the Raven’s answer because he thinks it might make sense. The narrator says to comfort himself that the raven has only been taught this one word by a previous master.

Stanza 13 The speaker thinks about Lenore as he sits in her chair to speak to the raven

Stanza 14 The speaker thinks he smells Lenore’s perfume, and he thinks it is a gift from the angels. Most likely, he smells her because he sits in her chair. He starts to become depressed again and asks the angels to give him a potion of forgetfulness (nepenthe)

Stanza 15 & 16 He gets mad at the raven for the response to his last question and accuses the raven of being evil or the devil. However, he ask him another question - Is the balm in Gilead? (meaning will he ever get over his sorrow). The raven tells him NO. He then gets upset again, but ask the raven yet another question. “will he see Lenore again (afterlife)?” The raven responds NO

Stanza 17 The speaker is at his angriest and ask the bird to leave. The speakers has decided to continue to be alone in his miserable state of mind.

Stanza 18 He ends the poem by telling us that the raven (which symbolizes death and evil) did not leave and still sits above his door. It still sits on the bust of Pallas (knowledge) indicating that death and evil have overpowered the speakers wisdom and his ability to get over the death of Lenore

Answer the three questions, then tape “The Raven” to pg. 38 The narrator attributes qualities of human thought and intentions to the raven (personification). What does the narrator believe the raven is saying or doing to him? How does the narrator feel about the bird's presence in his study? What do you think motivated Poe to write “The Raven”?

Processing Write an 8 sentence summary of the poem Make sure to include how Poe adds suspense in the poem