Edgar Allan Poe, "The Raven"
Lesson plans and teaching resources
Biography and background information, Edgar Allan Poe
Lesson plans, activities, and information on Poe's life and times.
Teacher Guide to "The Raven"
How might students use storyboards to demonstrate and to extend their learning? Check the resources here. Includes essential questions, plot diagram, TP-CASTT approach to writing, literary elements, key themes, symbols, and motifs, vocabulary, post-reading project, more.
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10 Fascinating Facts About Ravens
Informational article includes a video of a raven saying "Nevermore."
Edgar Allan Poe: Death and Beyond
Video biography (1:18) from biography.com. This episode discusses how Poe viewed death.
Edgar Allan Poe: Nevermore
Video biography (1:05) from biography.com. This episode discusses the overnight fame created by publication of "The Raven" and mentions that Poe earned only $14.00 from it.
Edgar Allan Poe Poetry Readers Theater
A fun project that serves as a good introduction to both Readers Theater and four poems by Poe: "The Raven," "The Bells," "Eldorado," and "Annabel Lee."
The Interactive Raven
As students work online through each stanza, they learn alliteration, assonance, and internal rhyme. Vocabulary words are also indicated.
POEtry-A Close Look at "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
Following a close reading of the poem, students use multimedia to illustrate it.
"The Raven"
Background analysis and emphasis on vocabulary.
"The Raven"
Video of actor John Astin in period costume reciting the poem.
"The Raven"
Voice Artist Bob McGraw's dramatic reading of the poem. The video features lithographs by 19th century artist Gustav Dore. It resides at YouTube.
"The Raven"
This YouTube video (9:56) of Christopher Walken reading the poem includes the lithographs by Dore and the text of the poem as captions.
"The Raven"
Actor John De Lancie reads the poem. Video runs 8:54.
"The Raven": Lou Reeds Adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe, illustrated by Italian Artist Lorenzo Mattotti
Background information, 17 color illustrations, and text of the poem. Consider a writing prompt in which students evaluate which illustration best depicts a scene from the poem and why.
"The Raven" vocabulary
Words are presented in context and with definitions. Click on a word for pronunciation, synonyms, examples of use, more.
"Edgar Allen Poe" [sic]
1909 film by D. W. Griffith, the first to feature Poe as a character. The film depicts an imaginative inspiration for writing "The Raven": Poe needs money for his sick wife, Virginia. Students may need to be reminded that this depiction is not historically accurate. This black-and-white "silent" film runs 7:06; a piano soundtrack is provided.
Repeat After Us
Audio files of "Annabel Lee," "Eldorado," "Sonnet - To Science," "The City in the Sea," "The Raven," "To Helen." A good site for LD students, ELL students, and for those who read well and might like to record and contribute. Files are in alphabetical order by poet; scroll down.
Lesson plans and resources for Poe's Biography and Background and Stories and other poems by Poe .