1. The Cycle of LIFE
The Cycle of life can be divided into 5 stages. In your opinion, what are the five stages? What would you use to symbolize each stage? What emotions, ideals, or connotations do people associate with each stage? Why do these stages apply to all cultures and all people?

2. Poetic Theme
Cycle of LIFE and DEATH

3. Thanatopsis
“Death Vision” T P C A S

4. Edgar Allan Poe
“The Raven”; “Fall of the House of Usher”; “A Tell Tale Heart”; “The Bells”
Troubled life: father deserted him, mother died, gambling debts at school, expelled for academic violations at USMA—Westpoint, estranged from stepfather et.
Accepted as the inventor of the detective story; psychological thrillers are still imitated today
Remains popular even today

5. Romantic and Poe
Poe wrote mainly with a Gothic style. Gothic style is characterized by the following elements:
The story is set in bleak or remote places.
The plot involves macabre or violent incidents.
Characters are in psychological and/or physical torment.
A supernatural or otherworldly element is often present.
How does this fall under the “romantic umbrella”?

6. The Bells
Edgar Allan Poe

7. Stanza I

8. Stanza II

9. Stanza 3

10. Stanza IV

11. “The Bells” T P C A S

12. Figurative Language
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia
Refrain

13. Emily Dickinson
Wrote over 1775 poems but only published 7 before her death due to insecurities
Asked her family to destroy her poems—they didn’t
Lived as a recluse, isolated from society; she dressed only in white and only her family was allowed to see her.
Died in the same house she was born in

14. Because I could not stop for Death—
Emily Dickinson

21. “The Bells” T P C A S

22. Figurative Language
Alliteration
Personification
Theme
Mood

23. Lyric Poem
It expresses the feelings of a single speaker’s journey to death…
Similar to Poe? How?

24. (Adapted from) How Death is Handled in Various Cultures
Charlotte Kuchinsky  

25. Death and Cultures
Why do all cultures have clear identifiable rituals for handling death? What does this tell us about all humans? Does this prove that Poe was right with his poem? Compare/Contrast Poe’s theme of “Death Triumphs over Life” to one of the cultures’ view of death above?

26. How do you View the Cycle?
Using your free write from earlier, compose your own version of these poems. Your poem must include at least 2 of the following…
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia
Personification
Refrain