Thursday, January 4 "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe close reading/ assessment handout

Learning Targets: 

1. I can cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.

2. I can determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.

3. I can analyze the impact of the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).

4. I can determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.

5. I can analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text  contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.

Coming up: assessment on semi-colons and colons Monday, January 8
                   vocabulary quiz on Wednesday, January 10: another copy below
In class: formal reading of "The Raven", student reading and accompanying assessment, which is due at the close of class tomorrow. (class handout / copy below)
Collecting colon homework from periods 6 and 9; handing out the colon assignment for period 3.  (class handout / copy below)

James Earl Jones reading "The Raven" 

The Raven

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

    While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—

            Only this and nothing more.”

    Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

    Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

    From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

            Nameless here for evermore.

    And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

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 visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—

Some late visitor 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;

    But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

    And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my 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 there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

    But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness 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 me burning,

Soon again I heard 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 and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

    Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute 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 countenance it wore,

“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”

            Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

    Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;

    For we cannot help agreeing that no living 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 then he fluttered—

    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 fancy 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 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 expressing

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 lamp-light gloated o’er,

But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,

            She shall press, ah, nevermore!

    Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

    “Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by 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!”

            Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

    “Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if 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 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!

By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God 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 shrieked, upstarting—

“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s 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 sitting

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,

    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

            Shall be lifted—nevermore!

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Name _______________________________  “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe   assessment

Please use your copy of “The Raven” to respond to the following:

1)  What is the setting?  Use words from the text and complete sentences?

2)  Who is Lenore and what has happened to her? (consider denotation, as opposed to connotation); incorporate text into your response.

3)  Find THREE instances of repetition.

Quoted word or phrase	Where it is (stanza number)	Why do you think this is repeated?  What does it show?

4)  Describe the beat of this poem.  Why do you think Poe chose that rhythm?

5. In approximately 100-150 words, support this statement: “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe is a Romantic poem …..    Make sure to use textual evidence to support your argument.  This is due at the close of class on Friday, January 5.  Please use the attached sheet to write your response; begin with an MLA heading. Proof read. This assignment will count as a writing grade. (Remember the qualities of Romanticism: Love of Nature, Idealization of Rural Living, Faith in Common People,

Emphasis on Freedom and Individualism, Spontaneity, intuition, feeling, imagination, wonder, Passionate individual religiosity, Life after death, and Organic view of the World)

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“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe  vocabulary words  QUIZ on Wednesday. January 10

1.     cask (noun)….a cylindrical container that holds liquids

2.     to venture (verb)…to proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers

3.     vow (noun); to vow (verb)- a promise or to promise

4.     avenge (verb)- to take action for a perceived wrong

5.     to preclude (verb)- to make possible, especially beforehand

6.     impunity (noun)- exemption from punishment or loss

7.     wont (noun)- one’s usually way of doing something, an established custom

8.     to accost (verb)- to approach or speak to someone aggressively

9.     to abscond (verb)- to run away, usually taking something or someone along

10.                        feeble (adjective)- pathetically lacking in effort

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Name______________________________
When to use a COLON

       

Now you try! Careful! 1. He set up an animal clinic there were none in his city.  2. My duties at Pet Haven were as follows checking in, scheduling, labeling, cleaning up, and billing. 3. We had to wake up 745, making sure we could read Ephesians 28. 4. The score was tied the game went into overtime.  5.He opened two more clinics: one north of the city and another in the poorest section of the city.  6. He promised to reform a few days later he forgot everything.  7. Ingrid, a shortstop, made the team, but Joe, her cousin, did not make the cut. 8. Here are the classroom rules raise your hand before speaking respect each other listen to one another. 9. The ratio of male to female in the group is 32. 10. The American flag has three colors red, white,  and blue.