Edgar Allan Poe
•Poe’s Background
•Students
•Assignments
Did you know?
•Teacher’s Page
At 27 years old,
Edgar Allan Poe
•Resources/Links
married his 13-year-
old cousin Virginia
Eliza Clemm on
May 16, 1836, in
Richmond, Va. Click on appropriate link
Poe’s Background
• Edgar Allan Poe, who was born on
Jan. 19, 1809, in Boston,
Massachusetts, authored more than
100 poems and short stories during his
lifetime. Poe was a master of the short
story, and the inventor of the modern
detective story. However, Poe is most
remembered for his skillful use of Did you know?
macabre and chilling tone, pacing, Edgar Allan Poe
died on Oct. 7,
and emphasis. His writing resembles 1849, in Baltimore,
an allegorical dance with death. MD.
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Poe’s Background
• Most of Poe’s work shows a keen
interest in the macabre, blending the
melancholy of the human heart with
the fantastic in clear, lucid prose.
“The Raven” (1845), Poe’s
masterpiece, illustrates this perfectly.
It tells a chilling tale of a man haunted
by deaths - past and future. Other
Did you know? poems convey the theme of loss and
Written in 1845, lamentation. Though a poet by
“The Raven” is inclination, Poe turned to the more
certainly Edgar lucrative genre of short stories, where
Allan Poe’s best
known work.
he was similarly prolific.
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Poe’s Background
• Poe’s short stories examine horror and
evil, both as a palpable external force,
and a malevolent cancer in the human
heart. His recurring master detective,
Auguste Dupin is seen as the direct
antecedent to Conan Doyle’s more
famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. …
Although he lived a short and tragic life,
Edgar Allan Poe remains today one of Did you know?
the most-beloved mystery writers in Both of Edgar
history. His contributions to literature and Allan Poe’s birth
the mystery genre cannot be parents died
underestimated. before his fourth
birthday.
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Students
• The Edgar Allan Poe Project for this
American Literature classroom
provides you the opportunity to
relish and marvel at the writings of
one of the greatest minds of 19th
century America. Although Poe
died before his time, his imprint on
America is linked with the hundreds
and hundreds of poets and mystery
Did you know? writers throughout our country.
Edgar Allan Poe had
a brother (William • Go to Introduction and begin your
Henry Poe) and a work.
sister (Rosalie
Mckenzie Poe).
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Assignments
• Introduction
• Task
• Process
• Evaluation
• Conclusion
• Teacher’s Page
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Introduction
• William Peter Blatty, Ray Bradbury , and
Stephen King wrote many thrilling and
frightful horror stories in the last half of the
20th century, and they continue to do so into
the 21st century. But if it had not been for
Edgar Allan Poe, these men might not have
achieved the level of success they have
reached today. Poe provided future
authors a glimpse of what lurked in the
macabre world of his mind from his writings.
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Task
• The Croswell Opera House in Adrian, Mich.,
will host an Edgar Allan Poe Gala in January
2009, celebrating the 200th birthday of Poe.
The Croswell Opera House Poe Committee
has scheduled a meeting for next month,
and they would like your group of four
members to present your ideas to the
committee. Yes, the gala event is not
scheduled until January 2009, but as they
say, “the early bird catches the worm.”
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Task
• The Croswell Opera House Poe Committee has
recommended each group present the following:
1. A historic timeline of Edgar Allan Poe’s life, highlighting
important dates in America’s history during the author’s
life.
2. An artist’s rendition of what Poe looked like in his latter
years, using paint, charcoal, or any other means possible.
3. A scene re-enactment of one of Poe’s poems or short
stories to show the committee the artistic level of your
group to understand Poe’s meaning.
4. How did Poe’s personal demons, the tragic events in his
life, influence his many writings? A 500-word essay to be
read to the Poe Committee.
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Task
• Then, your group will present the timeline,
the artwork, the re-enactment, and the
essay paper to the Poe Committee (your
classmates).
• Once you have submitted your work to the
Poe Committee, your teacher will provide
your grade within a week’s time.
• Enjoy the challenge. The Croswell Opera
House Poe Committee wishes your group
the best of luck, and let the fun begin!
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Process
• Okay, now the real fun begins. First, the members
of your group must research and know as much as
possible about Edgar Allan Poe, which means your
group must get down and dirty – and do some
research.
– Read a sampling of Poe’s works, either short stories or
poems.
• http://www.eapoe.org/works/index.htm
• http://www.pambytes.com/poe/poe.html
– Someone from your group must also gather research on
America during Poe’s lifetime.
• http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/history/toc.htm
• http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi
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Process
• Once your group has finished reading a sampling of
Poe’s writings and researching America for the
timeline, you must prepare for the artist’s rendition
of Poe to present to the Poe Committee.
– Visit the following Web sites to view different illustrations,
paintings, busts, etc., of Poe:
• www.yahoo.com
• www.google.com
• If you read a sampling of Poe’s short stories and poems, you
have an idea of which scene you would like to re-enact for
the Poe Committee. If not, go back and review the readings
on the previous slide.
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Evaluation
• If you would like to see how your group is
progressing, click on Rubric and go to the
appropriate link. If you feel your group is reaching
the goals in the Rubric, continue with your project.
If you feel you are not reaching your potential
based on the Rubric, please see your teacher for
further instruction or help. Your group will be
evaluated accordingly, and each member of the
group will be able to evaluate each other , noting
such things as participation and working within a
group setting.
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Student Rubric
Edgar Allan Poe Project for
American Literature Excellent Fair Good Poor
A historic timeline of Edgar Collected all information Collected most of information Collected some information but Did not collect information
Allan Poe’s life, needed to apply biographical needed and information meets information is unclear in needed for apply biography to
highlighting important dates data to the reading selection most but not all needs in application to the reading reading selection or for
in America’s history during plus accurately and clearly to application to the reading selection or for creation of creation of timeline.
the author’s life. the timeline. selection or for creation of timeline.
timeline.
An artist’s rendition of what Product reflects collection of all Product reflects collection of Product reflects collection of Product does not reflect
Poe looked like in his latter data needed and is well most data needed and is most data needed and is collection of data needed and
years, using paint, charcoal, organized both in information organized but lacks either organized but lacks clarity and is not organized, lacks clarity
or any other means and graphic appeal. clarity or graphic appeal. graphic appeal. and graphic appeal.
possible.
A scene re-enactment of Uses original approach Uses original approach Approach is less than effective Approach is not effective and
one of Poe’s poems or short effectively and is highly effectively and is highly and shows little organization. shows minimum organization.
stories to show the organized. Well rehearsed organized but shows lack of Some evidence of rehearsal Little evidence of rehearsal
committee the artistic level showing ease in delivery and rehearsal with inadequate but lacks delivery. and lacks delivery.
of your group to understand adequate preparation. delivery and preparation.
Poe’s meaning.
How did Edgar Allan Poe’s Well-written piece. Well-written piece. Average written piece. Poorly written piece.
personal demons, tragic Presentation was effective and Presentation was effective and Presentation was not best Presentation was not effective.
events in his life, influence student use showed expertise. student use showed lack of choice for selection and was Student use showed lack of
his many writings? A 500- expertise. not as effective as other expertise
word essay to be read to mediums. Student use showed
the Poe Committee. lack of expertise.
Individual student worked Student worked well with Student worked well with Student did not work well with Student did not work well with
cooperatively with team group. Student input was group. Student input was group. Student input was group. Student input was not
members and participated accurate and timely. Student accurate and timely. Student accurate and timely. Student always accurate and/or timely.
in elements of the project. participated in all aspects of did not participate in all did not participate in all Student did not participate in
the project. aspects of the project. aspects of the project. all aspects of the project.
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Conclusion
• Congratulations! Your group will prepare for the Poe Gala
Celebration in January 2009! Your group can also say you are an
expert on Edgar Allan Poe. Here are a few Web sites you can visit to
learn more about Poe, his work, and his lifestyle.
– E. A. Poe Society of Baltimore
– Poe’s Virtual Library
– Edgar Allan Poe’s House of Usher
– Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
– Edgar Allan Poe Museum – Richmond, Virginia
– Edgar Allan Poe – Collected Works of the Master of the Macabre
– Edgar Allan Poe
– The Poe Studies Association
– American Masters Edgar Allan Poe/PBS
– Edgar Allan Poe: Once Upon a Midnight, starring John Astin
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Teacher’s Page
• Introduction: • Learners:
– The lesson includes – Students will read selected
activities designed to allow works of Poe.
students to investigate the
life of Edgar Allan Poe and – After reading Poe’s
apply their research for the biography and developing
assignment based on his an understanding of the
works. lifestyle of Poe, students will
– Students will read share their information on
biographies, short stories, Poe through drama, art,
and poems. They will and public speaking.
create dramas and – This assignment integrates
produce documents based
on their understanding of language arts, computers
the selections read and skills, art, drama, and
their research on Poe. elements of character
education.
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Teacher’s Page
• Process: • Resources:
– Students will read about – Click here.
Poe and his history. – Additional resources
Students will also research include:
the history of the United • Books of poetry and
States during his lifetime to short stories from Edgar
create a timeline. Allan Poe.
– Students will re-enact a • Computer access with
scene from one of Poe’s Internet access as well.
poems or short stories
based on their research. • Art access, either art
room or classroom, with
– Students will draw, paint, supplies to create
create an image of Poe artwork.
through art.
• Evaluation:
– Students will write a 500-
word essay on Poe’s life – Click here.
and its effects on his writing.
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Teacher’s Rubric
Edgar Allan Poe Project for
American Literature Excellent Fair Good Poor
Research of Biographical Collected all information Collected most of information Collected some information Did not collect information
Information to create timeline needed to apply biographical needed and information meets but information is unclear in needed for apply biography to
based on Poe and United data to the reading selection most but not all needs in application to the reading reading selection or for
application to the reading
States of America from 1800- plus accurately and clearly to selection or for creation of creation of timeline.
selection or for creation of
1850. the timeline. timeline. timeline.
Group presentation convinces Uses original approach Uses original approach Approach is less than effective Approach is not effective and
the audience to include the effectively and is highly effectively and is highly and shows little organization. shows minimum organization.
selection in the upcoming organized. Well rehearsed organized but shows lack of Some evidence of rehearsal Little evidence of rehearsal
theatre presentation of Poe. showing ease in delivery and rehearsal with inadequate but lacks delivery. and lacks delivery.
adequate preparation. delivery and preparation.
The artwork suited the reading Presentation of artwork was Presentation of artwork was Presentation of artwork was not Presentation medium/mode
selection and team made effective and student use effective and student use best choice for selection and was was not effective. Student use
good use of it in presentation. showed expertise. showed lack of expertise. not as effective as other showed lack of expertise.
mediums. Student use showed
lack of expertise.
The essay prepared depicts Group offered well-written Group offered well-written, Group offered an acceptably Group offered piece which
Poe’s lifestyle, showing piece with well-described interesting piece. It has written piece, readable. Some lacks facts, information about
research and knowledge of action to bring piece to life. An accurate description and description is incorporated into historic figure. It is confusing
subject and relating his writing interesting, highly organized keeps the readers’ interest. the piece, but not much. and difficult to read.
to his every-day struggle. piece of writing.
Individual student worked Student worked well with Student worked well with Student did not work well with Student did not work well with
cooperatively with teammates partner and group. Student partner and group. Student partner and/or group. Student partner and/or group. Student
and participated in elements input was accurate and timely. input was accurate and timely. input was accurate and timely. input was not always accurate
and/or timely. Student did not
of the project. Student participated in all Student did not participate in Student did not participate in
participate in all aspects of the
aspects of the project. all aspects of the project. all aspects of the project. project.
Project overall was Project included all Project included all components Project included most all Project did not include most all
professional in both print and components and was and was presented to the class components and was presented components and was presented
non-print components. presented to the class in a but lacked professional qualities to the class but lacked to the class but lacked
needed to be considered professional qualities needed to professional qualities needed to
timely professional manner.
superior. be considered sufficient. be considered sufficient or limited.
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Teacher’s Page
• Thank you. Additional links contributed to this
project:
– Edgar Allan Poe – Biography, Books, and Other Works
– Edgar Allan Poe
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Resources/Links
• E. A. Poe Society of Baltimore
• Poe’s Virtual Library
• Edgar Allan Poe’s House of Usher
• Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
• Edgar Allan Poe Museum – Richmond, Virginia
• Edgar Allan Poe – Collected Works of the Master of the
Macabre
• Edgar Allan Poe
• The Poe Studies Association
• American Masters Edgar Allan Poe/PBS
• Edgar Allan Poe: Once Upon a Midnight, starring John Astin
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