Edgar Allan Poe Unit
Study Guide Packet
Mrs. P. McCall
NAME:
DATE:
PERIOD:
Edgar Allan Poe Video Questions
1.
In what city was Poe born?
2.
Who were his parents and what did they do for a living?
3.
How did his mother die?
4.
Who adopted Poe after the death of his mother?
5.
At what age was it clear that Poe was a precocious reader and writer?
6.
When was Poe’s 1st book of poems published?
7.
How old was Poe when he got married?
8.
Who did he marry and how old was she?
9.
What famous author did Poe meet?
10. How did Poe’s wife die?
What effect did her death have on him?
11.
What was Poe’s best known poem?
12. Explain the circumstances of Poe’s death?
Overview of Major Works
13. According to Poe, what should a poem do?
14. About how many poems did Poe write?
15. About how many short stories did Poe write?
16. Which was Poe’s last poem?
What was it about?
17. What short story established Poe as a serious writer?
18. Name at least 3 key elements of Poe’s stories.
19. What was the name of the world’s 1st detective story?
20. What was Poe’s most popular story?
What did he win for writing it?
Edgar Allan Poe Vocabulary
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The Cask of Amontillado
Preclude v. to prevent; make impossible
Impunity n. freedom from punishment, harm, or bad consequences
Accost v. to approach and speak to, especially in an aggressive manner
Explicit adj. definitely stated; clearly expressed
Implore v. to ask earnestly; to beg
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The Tell-Tale Heart
Vex v. to cause stress or annoyance; to bother
Vehement adj. showing very strong feeling
Hypocrite adj. pretending to be greater than one is; appearing to be virtuous without being so
Audacity n. boldness
Suavity n. politeness in a smooth manner
Definitive adj. serving to define, fix, or specify definitely
Acute adj. extremely sensitive even to slight details or impressions
The Pit and the Pendulum
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Encompass (v.) to surround
Impede (v.) to obstruct
Avidity (n.) a great eagerness
Abyss (n.) bottomless gulf
Lethargy (n.) extreme drowsiness
Ingenuity (n.) cleverness; skill
Cognizance (n.) knowledge or awareness
Unrelenting (adj.) merciless; without compassion
Discordant (adj.) harsh sounding; clashing
The Masque of the Red Death
Pestilence (n.) a very destructive contagious disease.
Profuse (adj.) pouring forth freely; generously
Sagacious (adj.) wise
Courtier (n.) member of a royal court
Countenance (n.) a face
Pervade (v.) to spread throughout
Grotesque (adj.) having a bizarre, fantastic experience
Wanton (adj.) shameless
Impetuous (adj.) of pertaining to or characterized by sudden or rash action or emotion;
impulsive
Untenanted (adj.) not occupied
Tangible (adj.) able to be felt or touched
The Raven
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Entreat (v.) to ask for earnestly
Beguile (v.) to charm
Decorum (n.) proper or formal behavior
Discourse (v.) to speak
Placid (adj.) undisturbed; calm
Dirge (n) a mournful song or piece of music
Ominous (adj.) threatening; sinister
Respite (n.) a period of brief relief from pain, anguish, duty, etc.
Tempest (n.) a storm accompanied by high winds and sometimes rain or snow
Pallid (adj.) pale; faint in color
Study Questions
–Answer the question below in complete sentences and provide textual evidence.
The Tell-Tale Heart
(pg. 174 yellow book)
21. From what point of view is the story told?
Is he reliable or unreliable?
22. Of what is the narrator trying to convince the reader?
What evidence does the narrator offer to prove his point?
Why is this ironic?
23. What is the narrator’s relationship to the old man?
How does he feel about the old man?
24. Why does the narrator decide to kill the old man?
25. Why doesn’t the narrator kill him for the first six nights?
26. How does the old man’s fear affect the narrator?
27. What makes the narrator finally act on the seventh night?
28. Why does the narrator confess to the crime?
Do you think that the police knew that he had killed the old man?
29. How does the point of view of “The Tell-Tale Heart” affect the way you read/understand
the story?
30. Is this a frightening story?
Why or why not?
The Pit and the Pendulum
(pg. 212 pink book)
* PROVIDE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
Before you read:
31. Is it possible to be tortured without being physically harmed?
Explain your answer.
(Have you ever said that something was “like torture” and you were not actually physically
harmed?)
32. What is the setting of the story?
While you are reading:
33. What is the last thing that the narrator remembers before passing out?
34. Describe the narrator’s surroundings when he wakes up?
How does he attempt to learn about what is around him?
35. Explain each of the methods of torture that the narrator undergoes. How does he escape
each?
a.
b.
c.
After you read:
36. What is the psychological element to each method of torture?
a.
b.
c.
37. Do you like the ending?
Does it make the story more or less effective?
38. Who shows greater ingenuity, the narrator or the torturers?
Why?
39. How do the torturers use the man’s natural human instincts against him?
40. What would you say is Poe’s definition of torture?
41. One of Poe’s common themes is madness vs. reason. How is this conflict resolved in this
story?
The Cask of Amontillado
(pg. 58 purple book)
* PROVIDE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
42. From what point of view is the story told?
Who is the narrator?
How does this affect the way you read/ interpret the story?
43. What is the irony in Fortunato’s name?
44. Explain in detail how Montresor manipulates Fortunato.
What is Fortunato’s weakness?
How does Montresor exploit this?
45. What is dramatic irony?
What are some examples of dramatic irony in “The Cask of Amontillado?”
46. What “sign” of the masons does Montresor give Fortunato?
47. How does Montresor finally kill Fortunato?
48. Why does Montresor’s heart grow sick?
What is the irony in this?
49. What is the most chilling aspect of this story?
The Masque of the Red Death
(pg. 227 pink book)
* PROVIDE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
50. What is an allegory?
51. Explain the circumstances under which Prince Prospero isolates himself and his friends.
52. How many rooms were in the Abbey?
What were their colors?
Is there any significance in their color and arrangement?
53. For what did the orchestra pause each hour?
How did the guests react to this?
What is the significance of this?
54. Why did the newly arrived guests draw so much attention?
55. Who finally unmasks the unwelcome guest?
56. What is the significance of Prospero’s name?
57. Explain the allegory of “The Masque of the Red Death.”
58. What are the Gothic influences in the story?
The Raven
(pg. 181 yellow book)
* PROVIDE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
59. The speaker/narrator is trying to forget what?
60. Describe the setting.
Give details.
61. What is the speaker/narrator doing when he is interrupted by the raven?
62. What is the speaker’s first reaction to the raven?
How does the speaker’s attitude change?
63. The only word the raven speaks is nevermore. What effect does this word have on the
speaker?
64. Why does the speaker tell the raven to leave in the second to last stanza?
65. Why does the speaker remain sorrowful at the end of the poem?
66. What strong feelings are evident in “The Raven?” (SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER!)
67. A symbol is something that stands for, or represents, something beyond itself.
Poe uses
the raven as a symbol. What does it symbolize?
68. What was happening in Poe’s life when he wrote “The Raven?”
H.W. ACTIVITY:
In “The Raven” readers see the painful emotions of the speaker/narrator. You are to
rewrite the poem from a different perspective and you are to change the subject matter. Poe
wrote about imminent death and the mystery beyond. You are to choose something that evokes
emotion from you and rewrite the poem. You must rewrite at least three stanzas.
For example:
Over summer’s course of playing, my mind would always go a straying,
To what lay waiting in the dawn of junior year and the memory of those who had
told its lore,
All were startled, scared, and silenced at the idea of the coming studios violence,
But as far as I know this was just lore, junior year was school and nothing
more,
So as a whole we went to the door, prepared for school and all it bore,
Only this and nothing more.