This is at least a 2-day lesson on “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. It includes an idea and a worksheet on
how to include The Simpsonʼs video version of the poem (on the Treehouse of Horror episode, Season One).
It also includes a 10-page document where the poem is on the left-hand side of the page, and on the right
side of the document, there is a section interpreting the poem. Specifically, there are definitions given (from
1-5 definitions each stanza, depending on the difficulty), as well as guiding questions (1-3 questions per
stanza). This ensures complete comprehension and is, ideally, meant to be completed with the teacher
guiding on an overhead of the same document. I have included an answer key with all of the answers and
summary statements. Itʼs important for students to be able to summarize each stanza in a very brief
sentence, and this document allows for just that! There is also a brief humorous “demonstration” to have in
the middle of the lesson. This lesson is engaging and interactive and truly “breaks down” the poem so it is fun
and easily digested and understood by all students! The entire document is 22 pages.
LESSON
1. Introduce the poem by showing the 8-minute video of The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror” version
(Disc One, Scene Selection 4). Students love this! This will prep the students, giving them a visual to refer
to as they read through Poeʼs poem later.
2. I introduce how famous the poem is; I think the students find more meaning in their learning if they know
there are multiple cultural references out there just for one poem! So, for example, I pull out a picture of the
mascots of the Baltimore Ravens football team – Edgar, Allan, and Poe! I tell them how this NFL team is
named after Poe. (The story is also explained on
http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/library/news/ravens.asp).
3. I then show the Simpsons video again, but add on a short worksheet, to make sure the students
comprehend a bit! Again, this is just a good introduction, especially because this is a difficult poem!
Worksheet is below.
4. I then pass out the 10-page document with the poem and the section in which the students write.
This lesson works well if you make a photocopy of the first ten pages below and put it on the overhead,
guiding the students through each stanza. I wrote the summary, for example, on the overhead, after
figuring it out with the students orally.
5. In the middle of the poem at the appropriate time (or perhaps at the beginning of a new class period, since
this poemʼs interpretation will take longer than one day), I have a student sit in the “Hot Seat” (a chair at the
front of the room). I give that one particular student in the “Hot Seat” a card that says, “Whatever the
students ask, ONLY respond ʻNevermoreʼ.” I then tell the rest of the class that this student will answer
their questions. Students ask tons of random questions and the student in the chair only says “Nevermore”.
It is not only funny – a bit of comic relief/a break in the middle of a serious poem – but I then ask, “Isnʼt this
getting annoying?! Donʼt you want to hear a different answer?!” I explain that these are the emotions of the
narrator in the poem. So they are feeling a bit like the narrator and connecting more to the poem.
image from tvfanatic.com
The Simpsons:
“The Raven”
Let’s get an idea what this poem is about BEFORE we read carefully through it.
1. What is Homer doing at the beginning of the episode? _________________________
2. Lenore is in a big picture on Homerʼs wall. Do you think Lenore is still living? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________________
3. According to Lisa, What will the raven always say?
__________________________________________________
4. Homer asks the raven what his name is. How does the raven respond?
__________________________________________________
5. What hits Homerʼs head? ___________________________________________________
6. Homer starts shrieking at the raven. How does he feel at this point?
__________________________________________________________________________
7. “Take thy form from off my door” is Homerʼs way of telling the bird what?
__________________________________________________________________________
The Raven
By Edgar Allan Poe
image from thewriting.com
weak and weary,
lore: knowledge or wisdom on a particular
subject, like local traditions handed down
usually in stories
Over many a quaint and curious volume of
rap: to knock
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered,
forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there
Summary:
___________________________________
came a tapping,
___________________________________
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my
___________________________________
chamber door.
___________________________________
"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my
“’Tis” = it is
chamber door -Only this, and nothing more."
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak
ember: glowing piece from a fire
December,
vainly: useless
And each separate dying ember wrought its
surcease: to bring to an end
ghost upon the floor.
maiden: young unmarried woman
How is Poe setting the mood – the mood
that is the perfect mysterious and
Eagerly I wished the morrow; -- vainly I had
depressing mood? Name four words.
sought to borrow
___________________________________
From my books surcease of sorrow -- sorrow for ___________________________________
the lost Lenore -For the rare and radiant maiden whom the
What is the man hoping the book will do?
___________________________________
Who is Lenore? What happened to her?
angels name Lenore -___________________________________
Nameless here for evermore.
___________________________________
___________________________________
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each
entreat: to beg somebody for something
purple curtain
Summary:
___________________________________
Thrilled me -- filled me with fantastic terrors
never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
stood repeating
"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my
chamber door -Some late visiter entreating entrance at my
chamber door; -This it is, and nothing more."
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then
no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I
implore: to beg
implore;
rap: to knock
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you
came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my
Summary:
___________________________________
chamber door,
___________________________________
That I scarce was sure I heard you " -- here I
___________________________________
opened wide the door; --
___________________________________
Darkness there and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood
___________________________________
Mortal: definitely going to die (a human
being)
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.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within
Summary:
me burning,
Soon I heard again 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!"
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt
raven: a large bird belonging to the crow
family: often symbolizes a bad future
and flutter,
yore: time long past
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days
obeisance: respect (like a bow of the head)
of yore;
mien: mood
Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant
Summary:
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.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy
into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the
What color is ebony?
__________________
beguile: hold somebodyʼs attention; mislead
or deceive somebody….(in this case, into
smiling)
crest: a royal emblem
countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I
quoth: said
(asking for its name)
said, "art sure no craven,
The raven seems to respond
___________________________________,
no matter what the narrator says to it!
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from
Summary:
the Nightly shore -Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's
Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the raven "Nevermore."
___________________________________
___________________________________
We can predict that
___________________________________
___________________________________
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear
discourse so plainly,
ungainly: doesnʼt have grace and has an
awkward appearance
Though its answer little meaning -- little
fowl: chicken
relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living
discourse: serious or long speech
Summary:
___________________________________
human being
___________________________________
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his
___________________________________
chamber door -Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his
chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."
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 farther then he uttered -- not a feather
Summary:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
then he fluttered -Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends
utter: to say something
have flown before -On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes
have flown before."
Then the bird said "Nevermore."
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 Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs
one burden bore -Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy
burden bore
Of "Never -- nevermore."
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
linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of
Why does the narrator think that the
raven only knows this one word?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
yore -What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous
bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable
bosom: place where emotions are felt
expressing
Summary:
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my ___________________________________
bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight
gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight
gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed
from an unseen censer
Swung by Angels whose faint foot-falls tinkled on
the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee -- by
censer: container used for burning incense
(esp. one swung in religious procession)
respite: time of rest and recovery
nepenthe: a supposed substance that
people took in ancient times to forget their
troubles or sadness
these angels he hath sent thee
What is a more rational explanation as to
why the narrator smells something?
_____________________________
Respite -- respite and nepenthe from thy
_____________________________
memories of Lenore;
_____________________________
_____________________________
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget
this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."
His emotions are becoming more active
here!
What does the birdʼs statement here
mean?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! -- prophet still, if
tempest: storm
bird or devil! -Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest
tossed thee here ashore,
balm: something that calms and soothes
Why does the narrator call the bird evil,
and suggest that he is a devil?
_____________________________
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land
_____________________________
enchanted --
_____________________________
On this home by Horror haunted -- tell me truly, I
_____________________________
implore --
If Gilead was known in Biblical times for
its healing plants, then why does he ask,
“Is there balm in Gilead?”
_____________________________
Is there -- is there balm in Gilead? -- tell me -tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil -- prophet still, if bird
or devil!
He is only setting himself up for
disappointment by addressing the bird
again!
By that Heaven that bends above us -- by that God
This time, he asks if he will
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."
"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I
upstart: to rise or jump suddenly
shrieked, upstarting -plume: feather
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's
“Shrieked” means that the narrator
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."
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is
Who is Pallas?
___________________________________
sitting
___________________________________
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber
__________________________________
door;
__________________________________
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that
Whatʼs the symbolism here?
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 floor
The word chamber and its association to
the _________________ may suggest
Shall be lifted -- nevermore!
that _______________________________
__________________________________
ANSWER KEY
The Raven
By Edgar Allan Poe
image from thewriting.com
weak and weary,
lore: knowledge or wisdom on a particular
subject, like local traditions handed down
usually in stories
Over many a quaint and curious volume of
rap: to knock
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered,
forgotten lore,
came a tapping,
Summary:
A tired man sits reading books and he
hears a knock at his door. He thinks
someone is coming to visit.
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my
“’Tis” = it is
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there
chamber door.
"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my
chamber door -Only this, and nothing more."
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak
ember: glowing piece from a fire
December,
vainly: useless
And each separate dying ember wrought its
surcease: to bring to an end
ghost upon the floor.
maiden: young unmarried woman
Eagerly I wished the morrow; -- vainly I had
sought to borrow
How is Poe setting the mood – the mood
that is the perfect mysterious and
depressing mood? Name four words.
From my books surcease of sorrow -- sorrow for Bleak, dying, sorrow, ghost
the lost Lenore -For the rare and radiant maiden whom the
What is the man hoping the book will do?
Make him not feel so sad about Lenore
Who is Lenore? What happened to her?
angels name Lenore -The narrator loved Lenore and she died
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each
entreat: to beg somebody for something
purple curtain
Summary:
The narrator starts to get a little more
emotional – especially when the curtains
move – but to calm himself, he says to
himself that the knocking is just some
visitor and nothing else.
Thrilled me -- filled me with fantastic terrors
never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I
stood repeating
"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my
chamber door -Some late visiter entreating entrance at my
chamber door; -This it is, and nothing more."
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then
no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I
implore: to beg
implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you
rap: to knock
came rapping,
Summary:
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my
chamber door,
He calls out to the door and the
supposed visitor, but when he opens it,
nothing is there.
That I scarce was sure I heard you " -- here I
opened wide the door; -Darkness there and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood
Mortal: definitely going to die (a human
being)
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.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within
Summary:
me burning,
Soon I heard again a tapping somewhat louder
than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my
window lattice;
The narrator hears a tapping that is even
stronger, so he decides to check out the
window and see if itʼs just the wind.
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!"
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt
raven: a large bird belonging to the crow
family: often symbolizes a bad future
and flutter,
yore: time long past
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days
obeisance: respect (like a bow of the head)
of yore;
mien: mood
Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant
Summary:
stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my
A raven flies in and sits upon a statue
above the door! He seems to have a
purpose!
chamber door -Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my
chamber door -Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
What color is ebony? black
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy
into smiling,
beguile: hold somebodyʼs attention; mislead
or deceive somebody….(in this case, into
smiling)
By the grave and stern decorum of the
crest: a royal emblem
countenance it wore,
quoth: said
(asking for its name)
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I
said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from
Summary:
The narrator actually thinks the bird is
funny and he forgets his sadness for a
bit. He then asks it what its name is.
(He thinks it comes from the “Plutonian
the Nightly shore -Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's
Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the raven "Nevermore."
shore”, which is the land of the dead in
Greek mythology.
___________________________________
___________________________________
The raven seems to respond
“Nevermore”
no matter what the narrator says to it!
We can predict that
Heʼll say “Nevermore” to whatever the
narrator asks it!
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear
discourse so plainly,
ungainly: doesnʼt have grace and has an
awkward appearance
Though its answer little meaning -- little
fowl: chicken
relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living
human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his
discourse: serious or long speech
Summary:
The narrator is amazed that the bird
speaks – but says it doesnʼt mean
anything since he doesnʼt think
“Nevermore” is a possible name!
chamber door -Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his
chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust,
spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he
utter: to say something
did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered -- not a feather
then he fluttered --
Summary:
He predicts the bird will leave tomorrow.
But the bird says “Nevermore”, which
means he wonʼt leave!
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."
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 Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs
one burden bore -Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy
burden bore
Of "Never -- nevermore."
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;
Why does the narrator think that the
raven only knows this one word?
He says that the bird must have learned
it from his past owner who must have
had bad luck (much like a parrot who
repeats what its owner says).
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to
linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of
yore -What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous
bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable
bosom: place where emotions are felt
expressing
Summary:
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my He sits in his velvet chair and tries to
guess what the “Nevermores” mean and
starts to think the bird is a bit evil. He
bosom's core;
also thinks of Lenore because “SHE” is
the one who use to sit in that chair.
This and more I sat divining, with my head at
ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight
gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight
gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed
from an unseen censer
Swung by Angels whose faint foot-falls tinkled on
the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee -- by
censer: container used for burning incense
(esp. one swung in religious procession)
respite: time of rest and recovery
nepenthe: a supposed substance that
people took in ancient times to forget their
troubles or sadness
What is a more rational explanation as to
why the narrator smells something?
_____________________________
these angels he hath sent thee
Respite -- respite and nepenthe from thy
memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget
this lost Lenore!"
He is smelling Lenoreʼs perfume that is
coming from her chair.
His emotions are becoming more active
here!
What does the birdʼs statement here
mean?
_____________________________
that he will never forget Lenore!
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! -- prophet still, if
tempest: storm
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
balm: something that calms and soothes
Why does the narrator call the bird evil,
and suggest that he is a devil?
He does not like the birdʼs response!
If Gilead was known in Biblical times for
its healing plants, then why does he ask,
“Is there balm in Gilead?”
He wants to know if heʼll ever be healed
of his sadness
implore -Is there -- is there balm in Gilead? -- tell me -tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil -- prophet still, if bird
or devil!
He is only setting himself up for
disappointment by addressing the bird
again!
By that Heaven that bends above us -- by that God
This time, he asks if he will
we both adore --
Meet Lenore in heaven.
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."
"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I
upstart: to rise or jump suddenly
shrieked, upstarting -plume: feather
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's
“Shrieked” means that the narrator
Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul
is getting very upset at the ravenʼs
response!
hath spoken!
Summary:
He asks the bird to leave and go back to
Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above where he came from
my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form
from off my door!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is
Who is Pallas?
Greek goddess of wisdom
sitting
Whatʼs the symbolism here?
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber
door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that
is dreaming,
Since the bird – associated with death
and evil – is sitting on top of the statue,
this could mean that death and evil will
always be a greater force than wisdom.
The word chamber and its association to
the heart may suggest
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his
shadow on the floor;
that the narrator will never get over his
depression about his lost love. (His soul
will never be lifted!)
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating
__________________________________
on the floor
Shall be lifted -- nevermore!