Choose to read one of the following short stories or poems by Edgar Allan Poe and write a minimum of 25 words in response to it. You can write a brief summary, explain what you liked about it or disliked about it, ask questions about what you found confusing, or compare it to other horror stories and movies. Your response should include specifics on what you read and you will be graded on the quality of your comment. Your response is worth 25 points and will be added in my grade book as an extra credit quiz. You may do as many as two different readings. If I feel you can add more to a comment, I will reply asking for more detail. Get reading get blogging!
It's October ; so what better way to celebrate Halloween than by reading from the father of the horror story. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston in 1809, which is why most literary critics (especially those from Boston) like to consider him a New England poet. But he really spent most of his time living in Baltimore, Maryland. Poe's life was filled with the loss of loved ones: his parents, his adopted mother, and his beloved wife, which most likely influenced much of his dark style of writing. His words provide both the dark side of human actions and an intimate look at haunting grief. Here are a few of my favorite Edgar Allan Poe stories and poems that I think you will enjoy.
"The Masque of the Red Death"- a short story about a silly prince who invites the richest and most powerful people in his kingdom to hide from a horrible plague called "red death". While the rest of his kingdom suffers from this horrible and fatal disease, the prince and his friends throw a costume party and dance the night away until an univited guest appears at the stroke of midnight.
"The Black Cat"- a short story about a man who loves animals until a flaw in his personality begins to take shape and he turns abusive on his once beloved pets. One pet, the black cat, returns to haunt the man and to ultimately "call him out" on his wicked deeds.
"The Tell- Tale Heart- a short story where the narrator warns you in the first sentence that he wasn't mad (crazy). That is never a good sign! This is one that 8th grade teachers will be reading next week to celebrate Halloween and Alex Santos's book club with librarian Ms. Esposito will also be reading this particular Poe. See Alex to find out which morning the book club will be meeting! I think he mentioned something about munchkins...
"The Raven"- probably Poe's most famous poem written about a lost women named "Lenore". The narrator is mourning this loss when he is visited (or haunted) by a black bird who repeats the word "nevermore" much to the narrator's displeasure.
"Annabelle Lee" the final published poem by Edgar Allan Poe. It is hauntingly beautiful verse about being left behind by a lost love.
You can find any of these stories and poems in one of my Edgar Allan Poe collections in class. You can also borrow a copy from the library or search the web. It will be worth the hunt to read any of his short stories or poems. Post here if you find one you really like or if you have questions about ones you have read. Don't get overwhelmed by the vocabulary; keep reading and follow context clues to decipher the meanings. Good luck and good reading!
Masque of the Red Death was a pretty creepy story I must say. Was a fun read in class though.
ReplyDeleteHi Matt- thanks for the comment! Red Death is a creepy story, but you missed a good show... this year Mr. Ahmed and I acted out the final scenes of it. He was "Red Death" and I was "Prince Prospero". Definitely a shinning moment for both of us!
ReplyDeleteMs.Guiney those are all excellent choices for stories Edgar Allan Poe is one of the greatest American Literature writers of all time! I highly recommend The Black Cat, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Raven those are my personal favorites! Also for other readers I am Alex Santos and if you are interested with the Arrupe Book Club go and talk to the school librarian, Ms. Esposito, and tell her that you are interested. She will give you a copy of the Tell-Tale heart to you. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe is what we are reading this month. The next time we are meeting is on November 2, 2009 in the Great Books Room at 7:40 am. There will munchkins, donuts, and halloween treats for all of those who attend! See you there! -Alex Santos
ReplyDeleteOh come on Ms. Guiney I didn't get an invite to that? I would've definately dropped by during a free. See what happens? I'm out of Arrupe for a month and a half and I'm already completely out of the loop.
ReplyDeletei must say i am not a big fan of poems but this one is good. but i wish i new the auther a little better. because i find the more i read an authors work the more i like it and understand it. by aj mastrocola
ReplyDeleteBlack Cat is a really creepy story. I highly recommend it. The book has really good imagery. What I like about the book is how vivid it is. What I dislike is I don't understand all the words. Edgar Aleen Poe writes the stories in "old" english and it can be confusing.Edgar Allen Poe was a creepy person and it shows in his short stories. That short story is the best horror story I have read
ReplyDeleteAJ, which poem did you read? What did you like about the poem? I'm also curious about what you don't normally like about poems that you did like in this one. I have a biography of Edgar Allan Poe that you might find interesting. It definitely gives you some insight about why he wrote the way he did.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Chris. I am so glad you liked the "Black Cat". It is a particular creepy story. Can you tell me one image that you found very descriptive or vivid from the "Black Cat"?
ReplyDelete-Kevin Viola
ReplyDeleteI read Annabelle Lee which has to be one of the saddess and one of the most deepest poems I have ever read. It is intersesting how Edgar Allan Poe always used and rhymed with the word sea. I thought that it was a great poem and a very beautiful writing peice. The ending to me was the best because it is was a great, but sad way to end it. I will probably always remember this poem when I think of my cousin who died from cancer and any other person that dies in my family or in other peoples family. I think that this was a beautiful poem an I would highly recommend it to other people who are going to blog about one of these poems.
Kevin, I agree Annabelle Lee is a very sad poem. It is believed that he wrote it about his wife who died very young. He was obviously devastated by this loss. It is very sad imagery in those last few lines you liked of the man laying on his dead wife's grave all night long by the sea. Thanks for posting and sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI read "The Raven", which is supposed to be his "classic". I enjoyed the poem (though it did creep me out)because of all the word he used that you won't usually hear nowadays like "quaff" or "methought". I also enjoyed his use of words in each line of the poem. Definitely one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteHi Sam,
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about what you found "creepy"? Did you understand the conversation he had with the Raven about heaven and his lost love? If not come and see me and let me fill you in on the last few stanzas and then you will be even more creeped out!
Ms.Guiney i just read The Black Cat. i was no a big fan of this poem because it was confusing and very weird. He writes in old english and i had trouble with most of the words in The Black Cat. By William Roach.
ReplyDeleteThe part that was very vivid was the part with the ax and how it was described
ReplyDeleteMs.Guiney I had never really been that familiar with the works of Edgar Allan Poe. I researched his biography to learn a little about him and found it interesting that he was born in Boston. It seems that most of his works were very dark and sad yet, this poem, Annabel Lee, although very sad too,because she dies, was a beautiful poem because he found someone who he loved very much. I did not know what the word seraphs was, but found out it meant winged angels.
ReplyDeleteKyle Grant
The Tell Tale Heart
ReplyDeleteMr. Guiney I have to say the story was one of the scariest I have ever heard. I loved the way the author described the actions and all the main events in the story in such rich detail. The part I liked the most was when he was hearing the heart beat in his head, and how he though all the others could hear it, but it was only him. The story was great, and I will recommend it to be read next Hallowen.
Hi, I read the tele tale heart; in class tho. I enjoyed it. I read it before in sixth grade. I think Edgar Allen Poe is a very creative writer. It is hard to understand how he would have know to kill a person in such a way in 1843. I like his thinking.
ReplyDeleteDear Ms.Guiney,
ReplyDeleteI thought that the Tell Tale Heart was very freaky and weird.I thought it was scary and freaky because the main character wanted to kill his butler because of his tinted evil eye. It was also very creapy because of the way that Edgar Allen Poe described the sound of his butler's heart beat. It is definetly not a kids story.
Dear Ms. Guiney,
ReplyDeleteI read The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe and i thought it was great! It was a little scary with the intense moments when there was a rapping at his door and what would be there. But over all I thought it was a masterpiece! He used such great deatails in his poem. I thought it was a great topic to chose!
Dear Ms. Guiney,
ReplyDeleteI also read the Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe (in class). I thought this poem was scary and disturbing! How he is able to sit in a room alone and write about scary things is scary! If I were alone writing scary things I would have a mental breakdown! I also think it is weird how he writes this poem with passion like he actually wants to kill people in real life!
Thanks for your comments, Xhonatan. It is a great Halloween story.
ReplyDeleteKyle, I am so impressed that you did some research on Edgar Allan Poe's life. Did you discover that this was his final published poem? It is a really sad poem and many people think it is about his dead wife, but what a beautiful image at the end with him at her tomb and the sea surrounding him. Glad you liked it. Good choice!
ReplyDeleteDevin, I completely agree The Tell-Tale Heart is not a children's story. It is sort of graphic in a very creepy way. Just a few things to clear up, the "butler" or servant is the one who does the murder, not the one who is murdered. Glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteRory, thanks for your comment. You remembered reading this in 6th grade as we listened to it the other day, did you understand it better this time? Or did you get anything different out of it after listening to it this a second time?
ReplyDeleteHi Luke, thanks for your comments on The Tell-Tale Heart and I'm so glad you picked up The Raven. I love the repetition of "the rapping" it is very creepy! Did you understand all the questions he was asking the raven or why he felt so haunted by the death of Lenore? Come see me if you want some inside information on it.
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Ford
ReplyDeleteI thought that The Tell Tale Heart was a very scary, yet creepy story. It was scary because of that I could picture that eye that was psycho. I thought that the butler was psycho despite denying it and it was smart how he killed him and hid the body. Also, it was creepy that he would creak open the door and stare at the man forever. The person who spoke the story did one heck of a job of making me jump out of my skin. It was wierd how Poe wrote this with a passion and that is a muderous thought.
Nathaniel, thanks for your comment! You had some great thoughts. I too love the part where he creaks open the door and peaks in on him for seven nights waiting for his chance! So scary...
ReplyDeleteDear Ms. Guiney i just read the Tell Tale Heart. It was very creepy and weird. I think it is weird how he was able to write these crazy ideas alone in a room. one particular part that scared me was when Poe described the heart beat that he was hearing. overall i liked this short story
ReplyDeleteDear Ms. Guiney, I just read the Tell Tale heart again and I loved the way that the Edgar Allen Poe described the way the housekeeper was feeling and how he was going crazy. I loved how he was very precise about every phrase and how it was described. I really enjoyed the story.
ReplyDeleteJC, thanks for the comment. I am curious what specific details you enjoyed most. Did you enjoy the narrator's explanation of how he stalked his prey before the murder, or did you like the description of the sound of the heart beating? You are so write about his use of precise phrasing, but can you give me an example of phrasing you found descriptive?
ReplyDeleteWilliam, thanks for your comment. I completely agree that the heart beating in the end was a very scary part.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Tell Tale Heart, not only the way it was written, but the reader's cool voice! I liked how Edgar Allen Pow described the story so well and did an excellent job on it!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the story, Mike. Can you be more specific- what part was so descriptive for you? Or what was your favorite part of the story?
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Ford again...
ReplyDeleteI read the Black cat.I thought it was sad that the man turned all abusive on the poor cat named Pluto. I also thought how that this man was claiming that he wasn't carzy yet he was. It was like the Tell Tale Heart on how the butler claimed he wasn't crazy, and he was too. It was also eerie how the cat appeared back into the poem as a ghost. How it suddenly appears in the den and is nice to him and seems friendly. I do not understand the last paragraph clearly though after reading it like 10 times. Good story though.
Well one of the reasons I don’t like poems is that I like reading stories and in poems rhyme and sometimes it seems a little weird to me. I read Annabelle lea it seemed sad. (another reason I don’t like poems they all have a mood in which usually stays through the entire poem as in a book the mood changes.) sorry I couldn’t blog back sooner I couldn’t find much free time.by aj mastrocola
ReplyDeleteGreat comments, Nathaniel. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI think that the story was pretty messed up because he hated this guys eye. The weirdest part was when he was standing near the guys doorway for about an hour just waiting to kill him. Another weird part was when he was having lunch with the cops, but started to go insane because of he thought he heard the corpse's heartbeat. Overall, I thought i t was a good story, but it was kinda messed up.
ReplyDeleteJames
I thought that the most descriptive part was when he was in the closet waitng for an hour. this was also my favorite part because i know that if that were me, I couldn't be able to keep my mouth shut, and clearly nobody really can because in the end he claims that he did it.
ReplyDeleteMike O'Donnell
Ms. Guiney,
ReplyDeleteI read the Raven. This was good but a little confusing. I liked how the author seemed calm about the door flying open. I could picture all the strange things happening. I liked all the rhyming in it. One word after another rhymed with the next. I think that it helped me picture it better. I would recommend this poem.
-Kevin Viola
ReplyDeleteI read The Masque of the Red Death. I thought that this was probably the most interesting poem that I have ever read. What caught my eye was that Edgar Allan Poe used only one color to describe the chambers that are in the prince's palace. It was very interesting to read about the mysterious figure. I thought that the mysterious figure was a great idea. I also enjoyed the ending which wad very sad and creepy. I do not want to spoil it for anyone who wants to read it, but it was a fantastic ending. I hope that you all will be able to read The Masque of the Red Death, and tihnk that if you have a taste for horror and mysery, this is the poem for you.
I thought that the tell tale heart was a little creepy. I thought that the man was strange. I liked how Edgar Allen Poe did not make the ending over one day in the story rather than attempts over a week. I also knew that the man would not be able to keep the secret at the end
ReplyDelete-Luke Ayers
I read the story where that guy Edgar Ellan Poe killed the man he is a servant for. I think in his writing, he is very descriptive about every single movement and scene. Like the part where he slightly opened up the door and the man woke up and he talked about how he had to sit still for over an hour while the man stood there in his bed pretending to be asleep. -Stephen DeForge
ReplyDeleteI read the story called "The Masque of the Red Death". The story was about a prince who invited alot of people over his house to party and during this time there was a severe disease called the Red Death. The prince thaught that if he blocked out the "Red Death" and party all nite for ever that he would not die. However in this story it explains that death will find you eventualy.I would recommend this book to my fiends because it is very interesting. I think this becuase the fact that the colors of the rooms were all different and that there was only one dorr that was red and that was the door that symbolized death.
ReplyDeleteI did understand it a little bit better its just that I cant forget of how he killed The guy and put him under the floor boards. Basically I just remember him killing a person and him going crazy but now I understand better.
ReplyDelete-Rory