Lesson Plan for HKIEd

Lesson Plan – Poetry Appreciation – ‘The Raven’
Student worksheets
Part A
Look at the picture of raven below. What words come to you as you look at the picture? With
a partner, write as many words or phrases as you can around the picture. Be creative.
Part B
1 st viewing - You will watch a movie trailer for a film called „The Raven‟ which is based on a famous
poem. Think about what the film might be about.
2 nd viewing – What words are given? What word is spoken?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3 rd viewing – Watch again and be prepared to put ideas under the following headings. Give reasons
for the mood that you choose.
Images in Trailer Mood Plot possibilities (What might
the film be about?)

Part C Translated version of ‘The Raven’
‘The Raven’ is the title of a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe and published in 1845. Poe was
famous for tales of horror and this poem has remained popular for more than 150 years now.
The poem tells the story of a man who is sitting in his study late at night. He hears knocking at
the door, but can’t see anyone there. Finally a raven (a big black bird) enters the room. Look
at the translated version of the opening verses of the poem below.
The Raven (translated by T. Gaughan)
One cold and dark midnight a long time ago, I was thinking about many things while I tiredly looked at old books about
ancient subjects. I was nodding over the books and nearly asleep when I heard a tapping sound at the door to the room. The
sound surprised me, but I said to myself that it was just a visitor making the tapping sound, and nothing else.
Thinking back now, I remember that it was in the middle of a bleak December. The fire had burned down until it was just red
coals so there was not much light in the room, and I saw the shadows of the coal upon the floor. I wanted it to be day already.
I couldn’t sleep because of my sadness over Lenore, and looking at my books didn’t help my state of mind.
The purple curtains in the room moved slightly and filled me with fear. To calm myself I repeated over and over, “it is some
visitor who wants to enter, a late visitor who wants to enter, and nothing else.”
Soon I became less afraid and spoke to the door, “Sir or Madam, I’m sorry, but I was almost asleep and you knocked so lightly
on the door that I almost couldn’t hear you.” Then I opened the door but there was nothing there.
I stood and looked into the darkness for a long time. I felt very afraid, but there was no sound and everything was still. I
whispered the word, “Lenore?” and heard a quiet echo, “Lenore.” I heard nothing else.
Make a glossary of 6 words that you don’t know the meaning of, but you think are important to
understanding the story. Use your dictionary to write the meanings. What part of speech is
the word that you chose?
Word Meaning
ex. ancient
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
-very old
Look at the above passage. What information can you find on the following?
Characters
Genre (Clues?)

Setting (both time and place) (Clues?)
Summarise your ideas on the past (what happened before the story begins), present and future
plot lines in just two sentences for each.
What happened in the past? What is happening now? What will happen next?
← →
Listen to your teacher read the first stanza below. Then you will the stanza out loud.
Part D First verse of ‘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 someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
" 'Tis some visitor, " I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--
Questions and Comments
Only this and nothing more."
1. Write the number of syllables for each line.
a) line 1 _____ b) line 2 ____ c) line 3 ____ d) line 4 ____ e) line 5 ____ f) line 6 ____
2. What is the poet doing when he gives the final line a small number of syllables?
3. What is the rhyme scheme of the first verse? ____________________________________
4. What words create the internal rhyme in line 1 and line 3?
_________________ _____________________
________________ _____________________

The poem has an extremely strong rhyme and syllable pattern. That means that when you read
the poem out loud, you feel the strong beat of the poem. Through the whole poem, the feeling is
that something is coming and the strong beat gives the sense that no one can stop the unknown
thing from coming. In addition the poet repeats many lines, which also adds to this feeling.
The poem (like all poems) MUST be read aloud to get the feeling the poet wants to express.
Part E Second Verse of ‘The Raven’
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--
Questions and Comments
Nameless here for evermore.
The poet gives us more of the setting and his mood. He also increases the use of internal rhyme
in the second verse.
1. Write the number of syllables for each line.
a) line 1 _____ b) line 2 ____ c) line 3 ____ d) line 4 ____ e) line 5 ____ f) line 6 ____
2. There are three important rhymes in the second verse. What are the rhyming words for each?
rhyme 1 rhyme 2 rhyme 3
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________
______________________ _____________________ _____________________
______________________ _____________________ ______________________
3. What does the last line of the verse mean?
Part F More of the Poem
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--
That 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 the 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.

Questions and Comments
The narrator describes the movement of the curtains and how he begins to be afraid. Because
the narrator is afraid, we the readers are beginning to be afraid. Darkness, silence and stillness
greet the narrator, until he hears the echo of a whisper.
1. Personification is when an object has human qualities. What words does the poet use to personify
the curtains?
2. Why does the narrator repeat the lines „Tis some visitor entreating entrance‟?
3. Who is the narrator talking to in the middle stanza above?
4. Why does the narrator say the word „Lenore‟?
Part G ‘The Raven’ and Modern Culture
Listen now to the opening of the poem recited by the excellent actor Christopher Lee.
Further work – Choose one of the following:
A) Listen to a rap version of „The Raven‟ on Youtube („The Raven Rap Remix). Do you prefer this
version or the Christopher Lee version. Why?
B) Listen to „The Raven Rap Remix‟ on Youtube. Write the opening stanza of your own rap. Start
with the words “As I pondered.‟
C) Compare 3 other recordings of the poem. Which one do you prefer and why? (some
recommended include Edgar Allan Poe, Christopher Walken, James Earl Jones)
D) Many famous books, films and poems are parodied. A „parody‟ is when something serious that
everyone knows about is turned into something funny. For example, sometimes politicians are
parodied on comedy programmes. The TV series, „The Simpsons‟ made a parody of „The Raven‟ for
a Halloween special in 1990. If you can locate that parody, it is worth watching. Or you may watch a
Youtube parody of the poem using a man and his oven. Everything in the parody is made of lego.
Type „The Oven (HD)‟ in the keyword search. What are the similarities?
Lesson Plan – Poetry Appreciation – ‘The Raven’ (With links to Pop Culture)
Teacher’s Worksheets
Background:
The poem „The Raven‟ by Edgar Allan Poe is a classic that was first published in 1845. Poe was
famous for tales of horror and this poem has remained popular for more than 150 years now. The
vocabulary is difficult and the lesson is suited for higher-ability students. However, the vocabulary is
secondary to the objectives, and since only a few stanzas of the poem are looked at, it should not be
seen as a huge obstacle.
The target group is S3 or S4 students having good ability in English. The students should already be
familiar with poetry and basic poetic devices. Only the first 5 stanzas of the poem will be looked at.

Objectives:
–to introduce or re-emphasise the importance of syllable, meter, rhyme, rhythm in poetry
-to look at the importance of imagery in conveying a message
-to stimulate interest in poetry through the use of the horror genre (popular among students)
-to show links between classic literature and pop culture
-to push students to explore the emotion of a poem and to go beyond question-answer in their responses
to it
Part A
Have students brainstorm words in partners or small groups. Have students put some of their answers
on the board. Encourage answers that go beyond physical descriptions of the bird and use more
abstract vocabulary.
Examples:
black, dark, evil, sinister, watchful
quick, clever, graceful
omen of bad luck
scavenger, rubbish picker
friendly, collects in flocks, noisy
Part B
1 st viewing of the video. Let the students watch the movie trailer at www.youtube.com (keywords –
The Raven – Trailer Mejpye). Ask them for possible ideas as to what the film might be about.
2 nd viewing – Once upon a midnight dreary (opening line of the poem)
One man stood alone. (not a line in the poem)
Spoken word is „Nevermore.‟
Encourage students to think about possible setting (both time and place) and genre.
3 rd viewing – Try to elicit reasons from students for their answers. For example, “Is it a love story?
What does the body language tell us? The man has his back turned. The woman is looking down.”
“Why is the man shot in darkness and the woman in light?”
Images in Trailer Mood Plot possibilities
-purple text on black background
-indistinct view of a man – his
back is turned to us and we
cannot see his face
-a half view of a woman’s face –
she has closed eyes, or is looking
down so we cannot see her
clearly
The mood is dark. The film may
be tragic or frightening.
Reasons we feel this mood are as
follows:
-the background music is
haunting
-the shots of people are unclear
or broken so we cannot form a
clear impression
-the word ‘nevermore’ is spoken
in a low and unfriendly voice
There may be many acceptable
possibilities, but the answers must
suit the genres of horror, tragedy,
ghost, etc.

Part C Translated version of ‘The Raven’
Turn off the lights to the classroom. Read the passage to the poems with drama. Have students
work on the questions and then report back or write on blackboard. You may also want to look at
words students chose for their glossary and point out that nouns and verbs are most important for
understanding meaning.
Characters
-narrator
-Lenore? Genre
-visitor? -horror/ mystery/ ghost
-raven? The setting, the narrator’s fear,
Setting (both time and place)
-it is midnight in December
the darkness, the unexplained echo
all contribute to the mood.
-the story happened long ago because the narrator
is remembering
-it is a house (a study and a visitor knocking)
-it is northern hemisphere (cold, fire burning)
What happened in the past? What is happening now? What will happen next?
The narrator is sad The narrator cannot sleep. Something will enter the
because of something He hears a knocking and room. It may be a ghost
that happened to Lenore ← feels afraid but we don’t → or person or the raven.
before the story began. ← know why. He opens → The reader may find out
Perhaps she was his lover← the door but there is no → what happened to Lenore
and she died. one there. and why the narrator is
Part D First verse of ‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe
sad, anxious and afraid.
Read the poem to the students with the classroom lights off. Impress upon students that they do not
need them to understand all the words. They should focus on feeling the mood and rhythm of the
poem. The vocabulary of the poem is secondary to the purpose of the lesson. Students should focus
on the beat, the repetition, the rhyme. If reluctant to read the poem, then there are many recordings of
the poem on Youtube that may be used. The recording done by Christopher Lee (reference in Part G)
is highly recommended.
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 someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
" 'Tis some visitor, " I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--
Only this and nothing more."

After reading it, have the students read the verse aloud. This should be done together and can be done
phrase by phrase, line by line, or the whole stanza at once.
Discuss the following comment on the student worksheet:
The poem has an extremely strong rhyme and syllable pattern. That means that when you read the
poem out loud, you feel the strong beat of the poem. Through the whole poem, the feeling is that
something is coming and the strong beat gives the sense that no one can stop the unknown thing from
coming. In addition the poet repeats many lines, which also adds to this feeling. The poem (like all
poems) MUST be read aloud to get the feeling the poet wants to express.
Questions
1. Write the number of syllables for each line.
a) line 1 _16__ b) line 2 _16_ c) line 3 _16_ d) line 4 _15_ e) line 5 _15_ f) line 6 __7_
2. What is the poet doing when he gives the final line a small number of syllables?
He is making us read it more slowly. He is giving it more importance/ more emphasis.
3. What is the rhyme scheme of the first verse? ___a, b, c, b, b, b______
4. What words create the internal rhyme in line 1 and line 3?
___dreary______ ____weary_____
___napping_____ ___tapping___
Part E Second Verse of ‘The Raven’
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--
Questions and Comments
Nameless here for evermore.
1. Write the number of syllables for each line.
a) line 1 __16_ b) line 2 _15_ c) line 3 _16_ d) line 4 _15_ e) line 5 _15_ f) line 6 _7_
2. There are three important rhymes in the second verse. What are the rhyming words for each?
rhyme 1 rhyme 2 rhyme 3
___remember_________ ___morrow__________ ___floor________
____December_________ ___borrow___________ ___Lenore_______
_____ember___________ ___sorrow___________ ___evermore_____
3. What does the last line of the verse mean?
The narrator is not going to mention Lenore’s name again.

Part F More of the Poem
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--
That 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 the 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!"--
Questions and Comments
Merely this and nothing more.
1. Personification is when an object has human qualities. What words does the poet use to personify
the curtains?
sad, uncertain
2. Why does the narrator repeat the lines „Tis some visitor entreating entrance‟?
The narrator repeats the lines to calm himself/ to slow down the fast beating of his heart (to still the
beating)/ to convince himself that it is true.
3. Who is the narrator talking to in the middle stanza above?
He is talking to the unknown person he thinks has come to visit him.
4. Why does the narrator say the word „Lenore‟?
He wonders if it is her ghost who has knocked/ He wonders if she may still be alive, despite his
fears.
Part G ‘The Raven’ and Modern Culture
Go the www.youtube.com and type in the keywords, The Raven – Read by Christopher Lee. Play the
first 5 stanzas. You may want to play others, including a recording of Edgar Allan Poe himself. If
you have access to the „Simpsons Halloween Special‟ episode entitled „Treehouse of Horror,‟ there is a
wonderful parody of „The Raven‟ that can be shown.
Additional work for the students may be assigned.