Edgar Allan Poe- werpoint By Mr. Faulkner

1. Edgar Allan Poe-werpoint By Mr. Faulkner

2. Disclaimer: You have to write all the stuff in this PowerPoint that is in red.

3. Early Life Edgar Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809, to David and Elizabeth Poe. Elizabeth (his mom) died in 1811 shortly after separating from David and taking the three children David, Edgar, and Rosalie, with her.

4. The three children were separated • David lived with their grandparents • Edgar was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan • Rosalie was adopted by another family.

5. Schooling When Poe was 6, he went to school in England for 5 years. He learned Latin and French, as well as math and history. He later returned to school in America and continued his studies. Edgar Allan went to the University of Virginia in 1826 at age 17.

6. Problems Begin Even though John Allan had plenty of money, he only gave Edgar about a third of what he needed. Although Edgar had done well in Latin and French, he started to drink heavily and quickly became in debt. He had to quit school less than a year later.

7. The Army Days Edgar Allan had no money, no job skills, and had been shunned by John Allan (his adoptive father). Edgar went to Boston and joined the U.S. Army in 1827 at 18. He did reasonably well in the Army and attained the rank of sergeant major. In 1829, Mrs. Allan died and John Allan tried to be friendly towards Edgar and signed Edgar's application to West Point Military Academy.

8. West Point In 1830, Edgar Allan entered West Point as a cadet. He didn't stay long because John Allan refused to send him any money. It is thought that Edgar purposely broke the rules and ignored his duties so he would be dismissed.

9. Struggling Writer In 1831, Poe went to New York City where he had some of his poetry published. He submitted stories to a number of magazines and they were all rejected. Poe had no friends, no job, and was in financial trouble. He sent a letter to John Allan begging for help but none came. John Allan died in 1834 and did not mention Edgar in his will.

10. Marriage In 1836, Poe married Virginia Clemm, his thirteen-year-old cousin. She died in 1847 from tuberculosis.

11. Career Poe worked as a newspaper editor and writer throughout his life, but he never made enough money to be comfortable.

12. Death On October 3, 1849, Poe was found on the streets of Baltimore delirious, "in great distress, and... in need of immediate assistance", according to the man who found him, Joseph W. Walker. He was taken to the Washington College Hospital, where he died on Sunday, October 7, 1849, at 5:00 in the morning. To this day, people are still not sure just HOW he died. . .

13. Poe was never coherent long enough to explain how he came to be in his dire condition, and, oddly, was wearing clothes that were not his own. Poe is said to have repeatedly called out the name "Reynolds" on the night before his death, though it is unclear to whom he was referring.

14. Some sources say Poe's final words were "Lord help my poor soul." All medical records, including his death certificate, have been lost. . . .

15. Newspapers at the time reported Poe's death as "congestion of the brain" or "cerebral inflammation", common euphemisms for deaths from disreputable causes such as alcoholism.

16. The actual cause of death remains a mystery…

17. LEGACY Poe is considered to be one of the greatest American writers of all time He is best known for his short stories and his poems (he never wrote full length novels) Additionally, Poe is widely considered to be one of the writers who helped perfect the art of the short story which was still an emerging literary form during his time

18. Poe was also the inventor of detective fiction – his short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1841) is recognized as the first modern detective story (it came out decades before Sherlock Holmes was created) He’s further credited with contributing to the emerging (at the time) subgenre of “science fiction” Most – but not all – of his stories feature mystery and the macabre

19. What does “macabre” mean? (Adjective) disturbing or horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury Synonyms: gruesome, grisly, grim, morbid, ghastly, grotesque, hideous From French macabre from Danse Macabre (translated to “Dance of Death”) The term “macabre” perfectly encapsulates a lot of Poe’s works (specifically the ones we will read)

20. Most known works Short Stories: “The Black Cat” “The Cask of Amontillado” “The Masque of the Red Death” “The Pit and the Pendulum” “The Tell-Tale Heart” Poems: “Annabel Lee” “The Raven” “A Dream within a Dream” “Lenore”

21. Poe Memes = Fire

23. The Raven Terms to Know: Stanza – divisions in poetry (like paragraphs) Alliteration - the repetition of consonant sounds (example: Peter Parker) Assonance- the repetition of vowel sounds (example: How now brown cow)

24. Terms to Know: 4. Onomatopoeia - words that imitate sounds (example: boom, moo, pow) 5. Internal rhymes - the rhymes of poetry within the line 6. End rhymes – rhymes occurring at the ends of lines 7. Allusion – a reference to a well known story in literature (example: the Bible, Shakespeare, mythology)

25. Narrative Poetry Like short stories, a NP contains the elements of plot, conflict, character, and setting (condensed) that combine to tell a story.

26. In this poem, the speaker (voice that talks to the reader) is also the main character of the story of the poem. Note: the poet is NOT the speaker – so Poe is NOT OUR SPEAKER

27. We will discuss the poem by stanzas So firstly, number your stanzas – there are 18 total

28. On your poem, Circle plot elements Underline sound devices Answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper

29. Each of you has been assigned a stanza from the poem It will be your job to read your stanza to the class when we get to you Go ahead and mark your stanza

30. Stanza 1 - Justin 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 someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door- “Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door- Only this and nothing more.” What info about setting do we get in the first stanza? What is the speaker doing when the poem starts? What rhyming elements – internal and external – do you see? Underline any. What alliteration and assonance do you see? Underline any.

31. Stanza 2 – Olivia E. Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrowFrom 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. *Surcease- to put to an end* What additional info concerning setting do we get here? Who is the narrator grieving? What sound devices – internal rhyme, end rhyme, alliteration, assonance – do you see in this stanza? Underline them.

32. Stanza 3 - Noah And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtainThrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating“'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -This it is, and nothing more.” In the first 2 lines here, why do you think things as innocent as the curtains rippling are scaring the speaker? Why is the speaker saying those things to himself in the last 3 lines? Underline any sound devices you see – alliteration, assonance, internal rhyme, end rhyme.

33. Stanza 4 - Chelsie 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 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. How is the tension built up in lines 1-6? How is it then immediately deflated in the last line? Are there any other stories or movies that also use this tactic? Why do you think authors do this? Who do you think was knocking? Underline any sound devices you notice such as internal rhyme, end rhyme, alliteration, and assonance.

34. Stanza 5 - Travis 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. Explain “dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before” in your own words. In the last 2 lines, what does the nothingness say to the narrator? Now, realistically, this could just be an echo. But, think outside the box here, give a supernatural or “out there” explanation for what this could be. Underline any sound devices you see.

35. Stanza 6 - Zi Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my 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!” *Lattice – the glass frames that make up a window; the windowpane* What again begins after the door is closed? Where is the noise coming from this time? Once again, what kinds of stuff is the speaker saying to himself? How can we tell the speaker is much more agitated or worried this time? Underline any sound devices you see. (This is the last stanza where I will do them with you. The rest are now up to YOU.)

36. Stanza 7 - Jalan 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 a minute 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. *Obeisance- sign of respect* *Mien- a person’s manner* Who/what enters the speaker’s home here? Pallas is another name for the Greek goddess of wisdom Athena. A bust is a sculpture of shoulders and head. Based on that allusion, what could the raven perching on that statue possibly symbolize? Underline any sound devices you see.

37. Stanza 8 - Abby 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 the nightly shore -Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!”Quoth the raven, “Nevermore.” *Beguiling – charming* *Decorum- decent behavior* *Craven – someone’s pet bird* The Night’s Plutonian shore – Poe is comparing the night to the shores on the edge of the Underworld because Pluto was another name for Hades, the Greek god of the Underworld. What effect does the inclusion of this allusion have? The speaker asks the raven what its name is. What does the raven say? This bird has just spoken. What is one possible realistic explanation for this? What is one unreal explanation for this? Underline any sound devices you see.

38. Stanza 9 - Mark 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 beingEver yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,With such name as “Nevermore.” To the speaker, how relevant is the raven’s previous answer? What does the narrator think that “Nevermore” is here? Underline any sound devices you see.

39. Stanza 10 - Bre 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 further 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.” *Placid – calm, unmoving* Explain “as if his soul in that one word he did outpour” in line 2 in your own words. What does the speaker confess to the raven here? Underline any sound devices you see.

40. Stanza 11 - Baileigh 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 disasterFollowed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -Till the *dirges of his hope that melancholy burden boreOf ‘Never-nevermore.’” *Dirges – laments for the dead; funeral rites* Now the narrator comes up with a different reason as to why the bird says ‘Nevermore.’ What is it this time? Underline any sound devices you see.

41. Stanza 12 - Kane 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 linkingFancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yoreMeant in croaking “Nevermore.” *Yore – long ago; of former times* What is the narrator trying to figure out in this stanza? Underline any sound devices you see.

42. Stanza 13 - Haileigh This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressingTo the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease recliningOn the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,She shall press, ah, nevermore! *Divining – using special powers to discover info* Who is the narrator thinking about in these lines? How do you know? Underline any sound devices you see.

43. Stanza 14 - Cameron Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen *censerSwung by *Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent theeRespite - respite and *nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!*Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!”Quoth the raven, “Nevermore.” *Censer- a vessel in which incense is burned* *Seraphim – angel* *Respite – rest* *Nepenthe- remove depression* *Quaff- drink* The speaker now believes the raven has been sent by whom and for what purpose? What is the raven’s response to these questions? Underline any sound devices you see.

44. Stanza 15 - Vanessa “*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.‘ *Prophet – a figure who can tell the future* *Balm in Gilead- peace after death; an afterlife* What are some of the things the speaker accuses the raven of being? What do all the punctuation marks – and short choppy groups of words – tell you about the speaker in this stanza? What philosophical question is the speaker asking the raven? Underline any sound devices you see.

45. Stanza 16 – Olivia F. “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 name Lenore -Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' *Laden – loaded down with* *Aidenn- Hebrew word for Eden. The narrator’s question is will his soul meet Lenore in paradise* What is the speaker asking the raven about Lenore here? Underline any sound devices you see.

46. Stanza 17 - Brooke “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.” *Upstarting – walking away* What does the narrator want the bird to do? What does the narrator mean by “Take thy beak from out my heart”? What is the raven’s response? Underline any sound devices you see.

47. Stanza 18 – Mr. Faulkner And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sittingOn 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 floorShall be lifted - nevermore! What happens at the end? Describe this story’s resolution (or lack thereof). Underline any sound devices you see.

48. Next Class – Tuesday Oct. 23: Each of you will be required to recite YOUR STANZA for the class from memory. This will be a MAJOR GRADE. If you have any questions about how to pronounce any words in your stanza, you need to ask me before next class. Points will be taken off for any words you miss, skip, and/or mispronounce.

49. The Raven Writing Discussion: Is “The Raven” a story of Sadness and Loss? or Madness? Using evidence from the poem, write a paragraph that explains your claim. - Paragraph must be at least 8 sentences - Paragraph needs at least 2 different quotes as evidence