Steinbach’s Examples: Devilish Hobgoblin Mausoleum Macabre

1. Steinbach’sExamples: • Devilish • Hobgoblin • Mausoleum • Macabre • On your own paper, make a list of the 10 creepiest, spookiest, scariest words you can think of.

2. Edgar Allan Poe • Lived 1809-1849 • He was a romantic author, poet, editor and critic who specializes in writing dark and macabre (ghostly and grim) stories • Known as the inventor of the detective fiction genre • Wrote “The Raven” in 1845- he was under stress because his wife, Virginia, was sick with tuberculosis (coughing blood, died) Any references to Lenore in the poem can be read as references to his wife. Inspired by the word “nevermore.” • It features a man who has a mysterious visitor, a raven, and he speaks to it. The poem moves from an amused tone to an annoyed and infuriated tone because the bird will only say one word: Nevermore

3. The Simpson’s Version (1990) http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=251203

4. Your turn! • Look back at your list of creepy, spooky, scary words. Can you add any to that list? Any from Poe’s poem? • Now write a spooky poem • At two to four stanzas in length (at least five lines per stanza) • Use any of the words from your list , the class list, or the pieces of diction you identified from “The Raven.” • Write about whatever you wish (within reason, of course), but be sure to include repetition as well as other pieces of figurative language (simile, metaphor, etc.) • We will have a poetry reading/competition on Tuesday/Wednesday of next week, and the winner will get a cupcake.