1. You are a soldier with highly classified government secrets and you have been captured by the enemy. This enemy, in particular, is known for its creatively brutal and inhumane methods of getting people to talk and you have been instructed that if you were captured, you must choose torture and death over confessing what you know. Right now, you find yourself in pain and soaking wet in a room so dark you cannot even see your own hands. Having been beaten and obviously drugged, and knowing that more torture imminent, you are laying on a hard cold stone floor trying to piece together what got you to where you are and how to find a way out. Tell the story of your experiences.

2. Artwork Analysis Give your artwork a name
Write one page to a page and a half on the following:
Analyze the story elements and stylistic choices in comparison what you believe to be the overall intent of the story.
You must include three quotes that connect to important shifts in the story
You must analyze those quotes in relationship to your own artwork and stylistic choices.
You must discuss the authors intent or theme in connection to your own work

3. Poe comparison
ON YOUR OWN: Create a chart, graph, list, or paragraph that demonstrates the common literary devices (2-3) Poe used in all three stories to draw you into story. For each device, write quotes that demonstrate the technique from each story. You do not need to discuss context or analyze impact (yet). *This will be counted for a reading quiz grade so make sure it is complete. (15-20 Minutes)
WITH YOUR TABLE GROUP: Share your ideas and add ideas to your chart, graph, list, or paragraph. You can do this in note form in margins. (10 minutes)
Read “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Annotate for understanding, questions, and use of literary devices. (due Monday)

4. “Fall of the House of Usher” Questions
1. What is the mood at the beginning of the story, and how does Poe create this mood?
2. Describe the history of the Usher family. What kind of interests do they have? What type of people are they?
3. Describe Roderick Usher – his appearance, his weaknesses, his attitudes.
4. What happens in the poem, “The Haunted Palace?” What are the parallels between this poem and the story of the Ushers?
5. Which descriptive details of the interior of the house suggest that the narrator has entered a realm that is quite different from the ordinary world?  
6. In what ways is the appearance of both the interior and exterior of the house related to Usher’s appearance and to the condition of his mind?
7. Poe chose to characterize Roderick and Madeline as twins, not simply as brother and sister. Why do you think he made this choice?
8. What evidence is there to support the claim of some critics who have argued that Madeline and Roderick are actually physical and mental component of the same being? (Think about why Roderick buries Madeline alive.)
9. Explore the various meanings of the “House of Usher.”
10. How does Roderick Usher die? (What actually kills him??)

5. Poetry Protocol
Read to get a sense for it… feel the language, annotate for small details.
Form a hypothesis
Read a second time to test hypothesis and gather more meaning… annotate for understanding
Read to perform and top capture the full meaning of the text.