‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe - PBworks

‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe

Teacher’s notes: a summary of activities

Understanding of plot
• Storyboard the poem using a picture for every verse
• Write about the events in the poem as if it were a short story. Use modern English
vocabulary.

Understanding of character(s)
• Write a diary entry as if you are the main character. Quote your exact words and describe
your thoughts and feelings.
• Draw a picture of The Raven in the centre of your page. Around it, write all the words
used to describe it.
• Write a paragraph on what you think the Raven is, or represents, or symbolises.

Understanding of themes/images
In this poem, good is personified by the lost Lenore and evil is represented by the Raven.

• Draw a chart with two columns, with Lenore on the top of one side, and The Raven on
the top of the other. List under Lenore all words used which have positive meanings and
under the Raven all words used with negative meanings.

• Write two or three paragraphs on ‘Is this poem a horror story?’ You must pick out quotes
to provide evidence. Does it have all the characteristics of the horror genre?

• Imagine this poem was to be made into a short film or cartoon. You must use the poem’s
exact words in it. How would you direct this? Consider;
Ø What the main character would look like and be dressed
Ø Describe the set
Ø How would you add lighting/ special effects to create mood and atmosphere
(when?)
Ø How would you organise the narration? What words would you emphasise?
Ø How would you direct the actor to say his line? Use quotes and discuss emphasis
and intonation.

Technical terminology
Identify where the poet uses the following, and comment on its effectiveness.

• Alliteration
• Assonance
• Onomatopoeia
• Personification
• Rhyme (including internal rhyme)
• Rhythm and meter
• Punctuation (commas, dashes, semi-colons, question, exclamation and speech marks)

and Italic printing
• Repetition

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‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe

Glossary

This poem was written in 1845. Some of the words used are not as commonly used
today. Many of the words you might not fully understand are explained
below.

Use a dictionary to look up the meaning of any other words you come
across in the poem if you are not 100% sure of the meaning. The
words are listed in the order you will find them in the poem.

1. lore = wisdom or knowledge
2. chamber = large room used for meeting people
3. wrought = shaped or formed
4. surcease = relief from / a brief release from
5. entreating = strongly requesting / begging
6. mortal = human / earthly
7. lattice = web/net-like pattern/ trellis
8. obeisance = bow or genuflect
9. mien = appearance or expression
10. bust = life-sized statute of a persons head and shoulders
11. Pallas = Greek God of wisdom and the Arts
12. beguiling = charmed/fascinated
13. decorum = respectability / good manners
14. countenance = face/ expression
15. craven = coward/ gutless
16. Plutonian = Black/ Pluto was Greek god of the underworld
17. discourse = communication/ conversation
18. placid = easy-going/ calm
19. ..only stock and store.. = only thing he has got
20. dirges = funeral song
21. melancholy = sad and gloomy
22. ominous = warning/threatening
23. censer = ghost
24. seraphim = angels of the highest order
25. nepenthe = drug that makes you unconscious
26. Tempter = The Devil
27. … balm in Gilead .. = medicine to relieve pain and suffering
28. Aidenn = Like Eden/ meaning - in heaven
29. plume = feather
30. pallid = white/ pale/ colourless

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‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe

Technical terms

In the first column are a number of technical terms we use when discussing poetry. Next
to them is a column containing the definitions, and a column containing examples from the
poem, BUT they are not in the correct order!

TASK ONE
First, read the list of technical terms, and then match up each one to its correct
definition and the example provided from the poem. You may use a dictionary for help with
the definitions if you need to.

For example:
1. Term = ALLITERATION.

Definition = F. When the same consonant is used at the beginning of a series of words
creating a regular sound-pattern.

Example = (e) 'Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared...'

Technical terms Definitions Examples from the
1. ALLITERATION poem
A. The pattern created when the (a) tapping, rapping,
2. ASSONANCE sound of the final word
in two or more lines of rustling, mutter, flutter,
3. ONOMATOPEIA poetry is the same. tossed, flitting,
croaking
4. B. When a poet writes about (b) 'Back into the chamber
PERSONIFICATION something that is obviously turning, all my soul
5. RHYME not human as though it were within me burning'
6. INTERNAL a person.
(c) 'the... sad, uncertain
RHYME C. When a particular word or rustling of each purple
7. REPETITION phrase is used more than curtain'
once in a series of a lines or
verses - to draw attention to (d) '.... and nothing more.'
it.
(e) 'Doubting, dreaming
D. The pattern created when dreams no mortal ever
two or more words, which dared...'
sound the same, are used in
the same line. (f) 'the rare and radiant
maiden whom the
E. When the way a word sounds angels name...'
imitates the sound of the
object it describes. (g) '...its only stock and
store... ...till his songs
F. When the same consonant is one burden bore-'
used at the beginning of a
series of words creating a
regular sound-pattern.

G. When the vowel-sound in a
series of words is repeated,
creating a pattern of sound

TASK TWO
When you have checked your answers, write the term, the definition and the examples
into your book.

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‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe

Turn an old poem into a modern story!

TASK ONE
Write one short sentence to summarise the events in each stanza. There should be
18 sentences in total. The first one has been done for you below.

1. I was napping when I heard knocking at my door.

TASK TWO
Divide a page into six boxes. Do this for three pages. Number the boxes one to
eighteen. Write the eighteen sentences at the bottom of each box and illustrate to
make a complete storyboard for the poem.

TASK THREE
Using the word sheet and a dictionary, try to write the first stanza as if it were the
first paragraph in a short story. Use modern English vocabulary.

The beginnings of sentences are written for you below. Copy these and complete
each sentence. Remember to indent to show paragraphing.

It was a miserable night and I was __________________________
_____________________________. While reading, I was almost falling asleep
when, suddenly, there was ______________________________________
_______________. I said to myself, “ It is probably _________________
_______________________.”

TASK FOUR gloomy
Try redrafting your first paragraph to make it more
interesting. Your aim is to create a scary atmosphere by It was a miserable
adding descriptive words of your own. Use a thesaurus night and I was
to vary your vocabulary. Proof read to self – correct feeling forlorn ...
punctuation and spelling.

TASK FIVE
Your teacher will assign you another stanza or two to do, either independently or
in a pair.

Be prepared to read your narrative version of the poem to the rest of the class!

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‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe

ANTONYMS

Antonym = A word that means the opposite of another.

Task one: Copy the table into your book.

HAPPY SAD

In pairs, one student is A and the other is B. Student A makes a happy face while student
B writes down a list of words to describe this happy face. Consider the following;

Ø What does the mouth look like?
Ø Do the eyes and eyebrows change shape?
Ø Do any line appear on the face?
Ø What is your overall impression of the face?

Now swap over, with Student B making a sad face while student A writes down words to
describe it. Share your work to fill in both sides of your table.

Task Two: Use a thesaurus to write a paragraph to describe the overall image of the
happy face. Use at least five adjectives. Now write about the sad face. Underline the
adjectives you have used and try to pair them up into opposites.

Task Three: In ‘The Raven’ Edgar Allan Poe include many opposites (antonyms) as his
poem is about a battle between good and evil. In the poem, the raven represents evil while
Lenore represents goodness.

1. Divide a page into two columns. Label one column THE RAVEN LENORE
‘THE RAVEN’ and label the other ‘LENORE’

2. Work your way through each stanza and list under
‘THE RAVEN’ all the words used in the poem to
describe it.

3. Try to work out the appearance and characteristics
of Lenore by finding antonyms for the words you
have found to describe the raven.

Task Four: Draw a picture of Lenore and label it.
Imagine how the ‘voice’ in the poem would describe Lenore
and try to write a paragraph in the same style.

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‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe

Is ‘The Raven’ a horror poem?

Task One

In pairs or small groups discuss the elements and characteristics
that make up a horror story or horror film.
Consider;

Ø Plot
Ø Structure and organisation
Ø Characters
Ø Language used
Ø Atmosphere
Ø Expected audience reaction

Task Two

Design a mind map that illustrates all of the characteristics of a
horror story. Highlight in a different colour the characteristic that
apply to the poem.

Task Three

Answer the question – Is ‘The Raven’ a horror poem?
Spend five minutes planning your answer before you begin.

Extension Task

Research and read a short story written by Edgar Allen Poe.

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Could you be the next Edgar Allan Poe?

Task One

Examine the structure of two / three stanzas.
Make a note of;

Ø The number of lines in each stanza
Ø The rhyming scheme used
Ø The pattern of syllables
Ø The layout
Ø The use of punctuation

Task Two

In pairs, try to write an addition stanza what would fit into the poem.
Consider where you would put the stanza and what its content should
be. Try to copy Poe’s style of writing.

Task Three

Read out examples in class. Discuss which characteristics have been
copied well and which not so well.

Extension Task

Write an alternative ending for the poem – perhaps replacing the last
few stanzas.
How has your ending changed the entire poem?

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