1. Poe on writing “The Raven”
"I asked myself - 'Of all melancholy topics, what... is the most melancholy?' Death - was the obvious reply. 'And when,' I said, 'is this most melancholy of topics most poetical?'... 'When it most closely allies itself to Beauty: the death, then, of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world -- and equally is it beyond doubt that the lips best suited for such topic are those of a bereaved lover.'"

2. The Raven In the den midnight A heartbroken man A raven Nevermore
A lost maiden named Lenore
And my soul from out that shadow . . .
Have students take turns – one student starts the story with the first fragment the second student continues the story using the second fragment etc. then ask students to compare the story they created with Poe’s version and the Simpson’s

3. The Simpsons version
Click on the bird picture to start the video clip

4. Compare/Contrast Versions
Read and respond to Poe’s “The Raven” in the interactive reader.
Compare/Contrast your version and the Simpson’s to Poe’s original. Which did you like better? Why?
Click on the bird for an audio reading

5. Fun Check for Understanding
Let’s see what you remember about today’s poem “The Raven”

6. What is the refrain of the poem “The Raven?”
Question #1
What is the refrain of the poem “The Raven?”
nevermore

7. What is the name of the narrator’s lost love?
Question #2
What is the name of the narrator’s lost love?
Lenore

8. According to the narrator, what month did the poem take place in?
Question #3
According to the narrator, what month did the poem take place in?
December

9. Give an example of onomatopoeia from the poem
Question #4
Give an example of onomatopoeia from the poem
Rapping, tapping are possible answers

10. Question #5
Give an example of alliteration from the poem, with at least two words in your answer.
Nearly napping, silken,sad,uncertain, doubting dreaming dreams, ghastly grim etc.

11. How many times did the Raven reply Nevermore?
Question #6
How many times did the Raven reply Nevermore?
Ten times

12. What emotions did the narrator feel while talking to the Raven?
Question #7
What emotions did the narrator feel while talking to the Raven?
Grief, sadness, rage/anger, despair etc.

13. “quaff oh quaff this kind nepenthe”
Question #8
What is nepenthe?
“quaff oh quaff this kind nepenthe”
A sleeping potion

14. Pallas (the Greek goddess Athena) represents what human quality?
Question #9
Pallas (the Greek goddess Athena) represents what human quality?
She is the Goddess of Wisdom