This is at least a 2-day lesson on “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. It includes an idea and a worksheet on how to include The Simpsonʼs video version of the poem (on the Treehouse of Horror episode, Season One). It also includes a 10-page document where the poem is on the left-hand side of the page, and on the right side of the document, there is a section interpreting the poem. Specifically, there are definitions given (from 1-5 definitions each stanza, depending on the difficulty), as well as guiding questions (1-3 questions per stanza). This ensures complete comprehension and is, ideally, meant to be completed with the teacher guiding on an overhead of the same document. I have included an answer key with all of the answers and summary statements. Itʼs important for students to be able to summarize each stanza in a very brief sentence, and this document allows for just that! There is also a brief humorous “demonstration” to have in the middle of the lesson. This lesson is engaging and interactive and truly “breaks down” the poem so it is fun and easily digested and understood by all students! The entire document is 22 pages.

LESSON 1. Introduce the poem by showing the 8-minute video of The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror” version (Disc One, Scene Selection 4). Students love this! This will prep the students, giving them a visual to refer to as they read through Poeʼs poem later. 2. I introduce how famous the poem is; I think the students find more meaning in their learning if they know there are multiple cultural references out there just for one poem! So, for example, I pull out a picture of the mascots of the Baltimore Ravens football team – Edgar, Allan, and Poe! I tell them how this NFL team is named after Poe. (The story is also explained on http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/library/news/ravens.asp). 3. I then show the Simpsons video again, but add on a short worksheet, to make sure the students comprehend a bit! Again, this is just a good introduction, especially because this is a difficult poem! Worksheet is below. 4. I then pass out the 10-page document with the poem and the section in which the students write. This lesson works well if you make a photocopy of the first ten pages below and put it on the overhead, guiding the students through each stanza. I wrote the summary, for example, on the overhead, after figuring it out with the students orally. 5. In the middle of the poem at the appropriate time (or perhaps at the beginning of a new class period, since this poemʼs interpretation will take longer than one day), I have a student sit in the “Hot Seat” (a chair at the

front of the room). I give that one particular student in the “Hot Seat” a card that says, “Whatever the students ask, ONLY respond ʻNevermoreʼ.” I then tell the rest of the class that this student will answer

their questions. Students ask tons of random questions and the student in the chair only says “Nevermore”. It is not only funny – a bit of comic relief/a break in the middle of a serious poem – but I then ask, “Isnʼt this

getting annoying?! Donʼt you want to hear a different answer?!” I explain that these are the emotions of the narrator in the poem. So they are feeling a bit like the narrator and connecting more to the poem.

image from tvfanatic.com

The Simpsons : “The Raven”

Let’s get an idea what this poem is about BEFORE we read carefully through it.

1. What is Homer doing at the beginning of the episode? _________________________ 2. Lenore is in a big picture on Homerʼs wall. Do you think Lenore is still living? Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. According to Lisa, What will the raven always say? __________________________________________________ 4. Homer asks the raven what his name is. How does the raven respond? __________________________________________________ 5. What hits Homerʼs head? ___________________________________________________

6. Homer starts shrieking at the raven. How does he feel at this point?

__________________________________________________________________________ 7. “Take thy form from off my door” is Homerʼs way of telling the bird what?

__________________________________________________________________________

image from thewriting.com

The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered,

weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of

forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there

came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my

chamber door.

"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my

chamber door --

Only this, and nothing more."

lore: knowledge or wisdom on a particular subject, like local traditions handed down usually in stories rap: to knock Summary: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ “’Tis” = it is

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak

December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its

ghost upon the floor.

ember: glowing piece from a fire vainly: useless surcease: to bring to an end maiden: young unmarried woman How is Poe setting the mood – the mood that is the perfect mysterious and

Eagerly I wished the morrow; -- vainly I had

sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow -- sorrow for

the lost Lenore --

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the

angels name Lenore --

Nameless here for evermore.

depressing mood? Name four words. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ What is the man hoping the book will do? ___________________________________ Who is Lenore? What happened to her? ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each

purple curtain

Thrilled me -- filled me with fantastic terrors

never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I

stood repeating

"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my

chamber door --

Some late visiter entreating entrance at my

chamber door; --

This it is, and nothing more."

entreat: to beg somebody for something Summary: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then

no longer,

"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I

implore;

implore: to beg rap: to knock

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you

came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my

chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you " -- here I

opened wide the door; --

Darkness there and nothing more.

Summary: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood

there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever

dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness

gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the

whispered word, "Lenore!"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back

the word, "Lenore!" --

Merely this, and nothing more.

Mortal: definitely going to die (a human being)

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within

me burning,

Soon I heard again a tapping somewhat louder

than before.

"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my

Summary: _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

window lattice;

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this

mystery explore --

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery

explore;--

'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt

and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days

of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant

stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my

chamber door --

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my

chamber door --

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

raven: a large bird belonging to the crow family: often symbolizes a bad future yore: time long past obeisance: respect (like a bow of the head) mien: mood Summary: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy

into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the

countenance it wore,

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I

said, "art sure no craven,

What color is ebony? __________________ beguile: hold somebodyʼs attention; mislead or deceive somebody….(in this case, into smiling) crest: a royal emblem quoth: said (asking for its name) The raven seems to respond ___________________________________, no matter what the narrator says to it!

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from

the Nightly shore --

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's

Plutonian shore!"

Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

Summary: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ We can predict that ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear

discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning -- little

relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living

human being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his

chamber door --

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his

chamber door,

With such name as "Nevermore."

ungainly: doesnʼt have grace and has an awkward appearance fowl: chicken discourse: serious or long speech Summary: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust,

spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he

did outpour.

Nothing farther then he uttered -- not a feather

Summary: _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

then he fluttered --

Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends

have flown before --

On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes

have flown before."

Then the bird said "Nevermore."

utter: to say something

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly

spoken,

"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only

stock and store

Caught from some unhappy master whom

unmerciful Disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs

one burden bore --

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy

burden bore

Of "Never -- nevermore."

Why does the narrator think that the raven only knows this one word? ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into

smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird,

and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to

linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of

yore --

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous

bird of yore

Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable

expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my

bosom's core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at

ease reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight

gloated o'er,

But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight

gloating o'er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

bosom: place where emotions are felt Summary: ___________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed

from an unseen censer

Swung by Angels whose faint foot-falls tinkled on

the tufted floor.

"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee -- by

these angels he hath sent thee

Respite -- respite and nepenthe from thy

memories of Lenore;

censer: container used for burning incense (esp. one swung in religious procession) respite: time of rest and recovery nepenthe: a supposed substance that people took in ancient times to forget their troubles or sadness What is a more rational explanation as to why the narrator smells something? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget

this lost Lenore!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

His emotions are becoming more active here! What does the birdʼs statement here mean? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! -- prophet still, if

bird or devil! --

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest

tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land

enchanted --

On this home by Horror haunted -- tell me truly, I

implore --

Is there -- is there balm in Gilead? -- tell me --

tell me, I implore!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

tempest: storm balm: something that calms and soothes Why does the narrator call the bird evil, and suggest that he is a devil? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ If Gilead was known in Biblical times for its healing plants, then why does he ask, “Is there balm in Gilead?” _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil -- prophet still, if bird

or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us -- by that God

we both adore --

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant

Aidenn,

He is only setting himself up for disappointment by addressing the bird again! This time, he asks if he will ___________________________________ ___________________________________

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels

name Lenore --

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels

name Lenore."

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I

shrieked, upstarting --

"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's

Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul

hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above

my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form

from off my door!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

upstart: to rise or jump suddenly plume: feather “Shrieked” means that the narrator ___________________________________ ___________________________________

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is

sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber

door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that

is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his

shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating

Who is Pallas? ___________________________________ ___________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ Whatʼs the symbolism here? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

on the floor

Shall be lifted -- nevermore!

The word chamber and its association to the _________________ may suggest that _______________________________ __________________________________

ANSWER KEY

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The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered,

weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of

forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there

came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my

chamber door.

"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my

chamber door --

Only this, and nothing more."

lore: knowledge or wisdom on a particular subject, like local traditions handed down usually in stories rap: to knock Summary: A tired man sits reading books and he hears a knock at his door. He thinks someone is coming to visit. “’Tis” = it is

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak

December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its

ghost upon the floor.

ember: glowing piece from a fire vainly: useless surcease: to bring to an end maiden: young unmarried woman

Eagerly I wished the morrow; -- vainly I had

sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow -- sorrow for

the lost Lenore --

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the

angels name Lenore --

Nameless here for evermore.

How is Poe setting the mood – the mood that is the perfect mysterious and depressing mood? Name four words. Bleak, dying, sorrow, ghost What is the man hoping the book will do? Make him not feel so sad about Lenore Who is Lenore? What happened to her? The narrator loved Lenore and she died

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each

purple curtain

Thrilled me -- filled me with fantastic terrors

never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I

stood repeating

"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my

chamber door --

Some late visiter entreating entrance at my

chamber door; --

This it is, and nothing more."

entreat: to beg somebody for something Summary: The narrator starts to get a little more emotional – especially when the curtains move – but to calm himself, he says to himself that the knocking is just some visitor and nothing else.

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then

no longer,

"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I

implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you

implore: to beg rap: to knock

came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my

chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you " -- here I

opened wide the door; --

Darkness there and nothing more.

Summary: He calls out to the door and the supposed visitor, but when he opens it, nothing is there.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood

there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever

dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness

gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the

whispered word, "Lenore!"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back

the word, "Lenore!" --

Merely this, and nothing more.

Mortal: definitely going to die (a human being)

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within

me burning,

Soon I heard again a tapping somewhat louder

than before.

"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my

window lattice;

Summary: The narrator hears a tapping that is even stronger, so he decides to check out the window and see if itʼs just the wind.

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this

mystery explore --

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery

explore;--

'Tis the wind and nothing more!" Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt

and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days

of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant

stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my

chamber door --

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my

chamber door --

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

raven: a large bird belonging to the crow family: often symbolizes a bad future yore: time long past obeisance: respect (like a bow of the head) mien: mood Summary: A raven flies in and sits upon a statue above the door! He seems to have a purpose!

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy

into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the

countenance it wore,

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I

said, "art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from

What color is ebony? black beguile: hold somebodyʼs attention; mislead or deceive somebody….(in this case, into smiling) crest: a royal emblem quoth: said (asking for its name) Summary: The narrator actually thinks the bird is funny and he forgets his sadness for a bit. He then asks it what its name is. (He thinks it comes from the “Plutonian

the Nightly shore --

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's

Plutonian shore!"

Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

shore”, which is the land of the dead in Greek mythology. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ The raven seems to respond “Nevermore” no matter what the narrator says to it! We can predict that Heʼll say “Nevermore” to whatever the narrator asks it!

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear

discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning -- little

relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living

human being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his

chamber door --

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his

chamber door,

With such name as "Nevermore."

ungainly: doesnʼt have grace and has an awkward appearance fowl: chicken discourse: serious or long speech Summary: The narrator is amazed that the bird speaks – but says it doesnʼt mean anything since he doesnʼt think “Nevermore” is a possible name!

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust,

spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he

utter: to say something

did outpour.

Nothing farther then he uttered -- not a feather

then he fluttered --

Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends

have flown before --

On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes

have flown before."

Then the bird said "Nevermore."

Summary: He predicts the bird will leave tomorrow. But the bird says “Nevermore”, which means he wonʼt leave!

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly

spoken,

"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only

stock and store

Caught from some unhappy master whom

unmerciful Disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs

one burden bore --

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy

burden bore

Of "Never -- nevermore."

Why does the narrator think that the raven only knows this one word? He says that the bird must have learned it from his past owner who must have had bad luck (much like a parrot who repeats what its owner says).

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into

smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird,

and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to

linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of

yore --

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous

bird of yore

Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable

expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my

bosom's core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at

ease reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight

gloated o'er,

But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight

gloating o'er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

bosom: place where emotions are felt Summary: He sits in his velvet chair and tries to guess what the “Nevermores” mean and starts to think the bird is a bit evil. He also thinks of Lenore because “SHE” is the one who use to sit in that chair.

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed

from an unseen censer

Swung by Angels whose faint foot-falls tinkled on

the tufted floor.

"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee -- by

censer: container used for burning incense (esp. one swung in religious procession) respite: time of rest and recovery nepenthe: a supposed substance that people took in ancient times to forget their troubles or sadness What is a more rational explanation as to why the narrator smells something? _____________________________

these angels he hath sent thee

Respite -- respite and nepenthe from thy

memories of Lenore;

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget

this lost Lenore!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

He is smelling Lenoreʼs perfume that is coming from her chair. His emotions are becoming more active here! What does the birdʼs statement here mean? _____________________________ that he will never forget Lenore!

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! -- prophet still, if

bird or devil! --

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest

tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land

enchanted --

On this home by Horror haunted -- tell me truly, I

implore --

Is there -- is there balm in Gilead? -- tell me --

tell me, I implore!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

tempest: storm balm: something that calms and soothes Why does the narrator call the bird evil, and suggest that he is a devil? He does not like the birdʼs response! If Gilead was known in Biblical times for its healing plants, then why does he ask, “Is there balm in Gilead?” He wants to know if heʼll ever be healed of his sadness

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil -- prophet still, if bird

or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us -- by that God

we both adore --

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant

Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels

He is only setting himself up for disappointment by addressing the bird again! This time, he asks if he will Meet Lenore in heaven.

name Lenore --

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels

name Lenore."

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I

shrieked, upstarting --

"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's

Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul

hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above

my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form

from off my door!"

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

upstart: to rise or jump suddenly plume: feather “Shrieked” means that the narrator is getting very upset at the ravenʼs response! Summary: He asks the bird to leave and go back to where he came from

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is

sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber

door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that

is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his

shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating

on the floor

Who is Pallas? Greek goddess of wisdom Whatʼs the symbolism here? Since the bird – associated with death and evil – is sitting on top of the statue, this could mean that death and evil will always be a greater force than wisdom. The word chamber and its association to the heart may suggest that the narrator will never get over his depression about his lost love. (His soul will never be lifted!) __________________________________

Shall be lifted -- nevermore!