Author Study: Edgar Allan Poe
8th Grade Language Arts
Summative Assessments
The author study essay and project will be due December 10th and will
include the following:
_____ 1 literary analysis essay
 Mandatory – everyone must do this
 30 points total (1-5 in all six writing traits)
+ one of the following options:
_____ 3 author projects = A (15 points)
_____ 2 author projects = B (10 points)
_____ 1 author projects = C (5 points)
Literary Analysis Essay
Essay Prompt:
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Focus on three ways that the author creates a specific mood of fear in his stories. Support your
analysis with examples in the form of quotes and/or paraphrases from the story.
Describe a time in your life where you experienced fear. Some examples might include, reading a scary
book or watching a scary movie, losing someone close to you, having to try something new,
anticipating an unknown outcome, or any phobias you might have.
Discuss how Poe’s own life experiences inspired him to focus on fear or mental despair as a theme in
his stories. Include details from his personal life and reasons why you think these experiences
influenced his writing.
Analyze the effects of fear both in Poe’s texts and your own personal experience.
You will be scored based on the Oregon State scoring guide using the following traits:
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Ideas and Content
Organization
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Voice
Conventions
Outline:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Introduction Paragraph
a.
A definition of fear (either from the dictionary or your own definition)
b.
A quick introduction about Poe as a person and a writer
c.
Mention which of Poe’s stories you will be writing about
d.
A thesis that introduces what the essay will be about (EX: Readers can learn ________,
__________, and _________ from Poe’s writing.)
Three ways that Poe creates a specific mood of fear in his stories.
a.
First example (concrete detail from story, a quote, followed by elaboration(s) in your own
words)
b.
Second example (concrete detail from story, a quote, followed by elaboration(s) in your own
words)
c.
Third example (concrete detail from story, a quote, followed by elaboration(s) in your own
words)
Describe a time in your own life where you experienced fear.
a.
Describe the experience with details such as: What happened? Who was there? When did it
happen? Where did it happen? Why did it happen? How did you react?
b.
How did this fearful experience affect your life?
Describe how Poe’s own life experiences influenced his stories and motivated him to use fear as a
theme.
a.
Briefly discuss Poe’s life including at least three specific experiences that you think encouraged
him to write about fear as often as he did.
b.
How does the mood of fear or mental despair affect Poe’s work? (EX: Did it make the story
more interesting? Did it scare you? Did you like it? Did it make you dislike the story?)
Conclusion
a.
Make a connection between your own fearful experience and Poe’s fearful writing.
b.
Review and restate the thesis and main ideas in the essay
c.
Reflect on fear as a part of life and literature
Edgar Allan Poe’s, “The Raven”
8th Grade Language Arts
A. (*REQUIRED)
Directions: You will create a children’s book retelling Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “The Raven.”
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It should be told in child friendly language that a kindergartener would understand.
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Your “kid friendly” creation should be colorful and beautiful. You may choose how to do this.
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You will decide how long your book will be and how you will retell the story.
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Remember that when retelling the story you want to accurately tell the story with appropriate
details from the poem. If you want to challenge yourself consider using quotes from the story.
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Poe’s mood is important so make sure that your story conveys his creepy, dark, and depressing
tone in your book. (Challenge Option: Change the mood entirely, but keep the content
accurate.)
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Please use the table below to review how you will be graded. You will get three grades for this
summative project.
Score
Length
Accuracy/Mood
Creativity
5
8 or more pages
Retold the story with complete
Extremely creative use of
accuracy and creatively
words and images.
conveyed Poe’s mood.
4
6-7 pages
Retold the story with accuracy
Very creative use of words and
and creatively conveyed Poe’s
images.
mood.
3
5 pages
Retold the story with some
Creative use of words and
accuracy and attempted to
images.
convey Poe’s mood.
2
4 pages
Retold the story with small
Some creative use of words
errors in accuracy and
and images.
attempted to convey Poe’s
mood.
1
3 pages
Retold the story with several
Not many creative words and
errors in accuracy and was not
images.
able to convey Poe’s mood.
Inc.
(not passing)
1-2 pages
Was not able to retell the story
No attempt at creative words
and was not able to convey
and images.
Poe’s mood.
Stanza 1
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What time of night is it?
What is the narrator doing at the beginning of the story?
What does he hear at the door?
Stanza 2
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What time of year does the poem take place?
What is the narrator wishing for?
Who is Lenore?
Stanza 3
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How does the narrator feel at the beginning of this stanza?
What is rustling in the background?
Why is his heart beating so fast?
What does he keep telling himself?
Stanza 4
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What does he say at the beginning of the stanza?
What happens when he opens the door?
Stanza 5
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Why does the narrator continue to stare into the darkness when he hears and sees nothing?
Who whispers Lenore back to him?
Stanza 6
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How does he rationalize hearing the tapping sound again?
What does he think is making the sound?
Stanza 7 & 8
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How does the narrator initially respond to the raven?
What question does he ask the narrator?
How does he describe the raven?
Stanza 9 & 10
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What has no other human being ever experienced?
What does the narrator mean about his other friends?
What does he think that the Raven will do?
Stanza 11 & 12
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Why does the author think that the Raven keeps saying, “nevermore?”
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Why does the bird still intrigue the author?
Stanza 13
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What does the room look like?
What is the narrator thinking about?
What does the narrator finally conclude/decide?
Stanza 14
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What happens to the air in the room?
What is the narrator asking for?
How does the Raven respond?
Stanza 15
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What can’t the narrator decide about the Raven?
When he asks, “Is there balm in Gilead?” what is he really saying?
How does the Raven respond?
Stanza 16
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What main question is the narrator asking?
How does he describe Lenore?
How does the Raven respond?
Stanza 17
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Describe how the narrator freaks out.
What does he want the Raven to do?
How does the Raven respond?
Stanza 18
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Notice that this last stanza switches to the present tense – as in, this is happening RIGHT NOW, not in the
past, as the rest of the poem has been.
What is the Raven doing?
Describe the narrator now. What is he doing and how is he feeling?
What is the final conclusion for the narrator? What has happened to his soul and his desire to see
Lenore?
B. Interview: Choose a character to interview. Create ten questions that you would ask that character.
Then answer those questions from that character’s point of view. Answers must convey the
authenticity of the character in the story.
C. Symbolism Dictionary: Make a symbolism dictionary with ten symbols found from the stories you
read. Organize the dictionary to include the following: the symbol from the story, what it symbolizes,
and an illustration.
D. Obituary: Write an obituary of one of the characters. How did the character die? Who are the
surviving family members? Make sure to include life-time accomplishments. Where should mourners
send donations? Where will services be held? Will there be a reception after the funeral? Include a
photo and/or illustrations.
E. Other? Explain your idea to Ms. Glaze for approval
Date
What I accomplished in class