Poetry by Poe

     As we begin our journey together, you will need to have your Structured Note-taking Guide and a pencil/pen with you.  This will help remind you what to look for on our journey and help you keep the information organized to use later in your activities.  There are also copies of 4 of my poems attached to this guide.  You will use them later.

Our first destination is a website at this address: knowingpoe.thinkport.org      

1.     Here, you will find a list of 3 different sections (Poe the Person, Poe the Writer, and The Poe Library).  First, we will be visiting Poe the Person.  After you click here, you will find a list of places you may choose to go including an Interactive Timeline in which we can see what was happening in my life at different times.  Explore this first section to find the answers to the questions on your note-taking guide.  Remember, stay within the Poe the Person section for now.              

2.     Next, let's go to the section called Poe the Writer.  Click on "The Poetic Pinciple."  When you get to "The Poetic Principle," read the information in the window, then proceed to "What Poe thinks about Poetry." This is a fun activity that will give you a chance to see some of the things I have said about poetry and decide whether you agree with me or not.  Remember to continue with your note-taking guide through this section.

3.     Our last stop at this destination is the section called The Poe Library.  This is where we will get to read more of my poetry.  Go to the part entitled Poe's Works. Read the four chosen poems here by clicking on the links. Also read the NOTES section at the bottom of the poems. Pause to answer questions on your note-taking guide before going on to the next poem.  While you read, think about what you know about me now, and how you think those events helped my choose the words in my poetry.

SPEAKING OF WORDS, your next two activities have a lot to do with words; both MINE and YOURS. 

A.     First lets deal with my words.  You will need the attached Frayer Models to complete this activity dealing with some of the vocabulary in my work. There are a total of 7 Frayer blocks on these sheets. The first one is a completed example showing you how to complete a Frayer Model. On the next four of these blocks, you will see a word chosen from one of my poems.  You will need to complete the blank sections of each one of these blocks.  Then on the 2 remaining blocks, you will choose one word from two of my poems (one on each block) and complete the sections on the word you chose.  Try to choose words that you think I purposely used in my work by considering what feeling and thoughts I wanted my readers to experience.

B.     The next activity will deal with your own words.  This is an activity called I AM Edgar Allan Poe?  You will need the attached Dear Diary forms.  Since you have gotten to know me pretty well, you get to pretend you ARE me.  You need to choose two different periods in my life that interested you most.  Perhaps it is a time right before or right after I wrote one of the poems we read.  For each time period, compose a diary entry as if you were me.  Explain what was happening in my life at that time that may have inspired my writing.  Remember to express what I may have been feeling or thinking AND how that came through in my writing by including some examples straight out of my poems.

IT'S TIME FOR YOUR CULMINATING PROJECT. HERE ARE YOUR CHOICES:

CHOICE 1: Design a powerpoint presentation showing what you have learned about my life and how those things may have influenced my poetry.  In your powerpoint, choose one of my poems and describe what you think influenced that poem.

CHOICE 2: Search for more of my poetry, then choose 10-12 of your favorites and compile your very own "Book of Poe's Poetry."  Include the four poems we read together.  At the bottom of each page, write how you feel about each poem.

You will find a rubric on the next page that describes how your activities will be evaluated by your teacher, so make sure you include the necessary parts of each activity.