Edgar Allan Poe
Lesson plans, biography, and teaching resources

|Biography and other Poe-related sites| |"The Black Cat"| |"The Cask of Amontillado"| |"The Fall of the House of Usher"| |"The Gold Bug"| |"Ligeia"| |"The Masque of the Red Death"| |"The Murders in the Rue Morgue"| |"The Pit and the Pendulum"| |"The Purloined Letter"| |"The Raven" and other poetry| |"The Tell-Tale Heart"| |"William Wilson"|

Biography & Background

"The Black Cat"

"The Black Cat"
Printable text of the story.

"The Black Cat"
Picture this! Students read the story online and select a graphic to illustrate each section. When they have finished, they can review the story by writing text to accompany each graphic they selected.

"The Black Cat"
Text, discussion questions, and links to other works by Poe. Adobe Reader or compatible application required for access.

"The Black Cat"
This 8-page vocabulary packet supports 26 words drawn from the story. Adobe Reader or compatible application required for access.

Edgar Allan Poe: Finding Stories in Ordinary Places
This YouTube video finds connections between Poe's apartment in Philadelphia and the story "The Black Cat." It reminds viewers that Poe was not only troubled but also very creative.

"The Cask of Amontillado"

Carnival and "The Cask of Amontillado"
Four lessons, including pre-reading, foreshadowing and irony, research on Carnival, and creating masks for Carnival. A quiz and rubric are also included.

"The Cask of Amontillado"
Vocabulary, a handout with emphasis on literary terms, and a post-reading activity.

"The Cask of Amontillado"
Online text of the story with vocabulary support.

"The Cask of Amontillado"
Worksheets, vocabulary practice, and related links.

"The Cask of Amontillado"
This 7-page packet supports 26 vocabulary words drawn from the story. Adobe Reader or compatible application required for access.

"The Cask of Amontillado"
Printable text of the story.

Edgar Allan Poe, "The Cask of Amontillado"
Nine questions for discussion and/or writing. This document requires MS-Word or comparable application for access.

Edgar Allan Poe and the Art of Composition
Students analyze "The Cask of Amontillado" for the composition patterns outlined in "The Philosophy of Composition." These patterns will be documented using a graphic organizer. The student will then use a graphic organizer as a guide to using Poe's pre-writing techniques to write an original short story. In writing the story, the student will evaluate the effectiveness of this pre-writing technique.

Law and Order: Edgar Allan Poe
Students read "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado." They will analyze the narrators as the narrators see themselves and as the reader sees them. They will then write the script of an interrogation of one of the narrators in the style of a popular TV series. This unit is designed for 9th grade and will require 3-5 class periods of 45 minutes.

Revenge -- Its Grisly Effects
Graphic organizer, vocabulary, editing practice, and practice with quotation marks. This 5-page printable requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

"The Fall of the House of Usher"

Creating Atmosphere
This activity uses the opening of "The Fall of the House of Usher" as a model text. Students analyze the first paragraph, then write an opening with an equally vivid atmosphere. Access requires Adobe Reader or compatible application.

"The Fall of the House of Usher"
Printable text of the story.

"The Fall of the House of Usher"
Hypertext of the story. Links provide pop-up support for close reading.

"The Fall of the House of Usher"
Extensive questions to guide student comprehension.

"The Fall of the House of Usher"
Eight questions for discussion and/or writing. This document requires MS-Word or compatible application for access.

"The Fall of the House of Usher"
This 10-page packet supports 52 vocabulary words drawn from the story.

"The Gold Bug"

"The Gold Bug"
Printable text of the story.

"Ligeia"

"Ligeia"
Printable text of the story.

"The Masque of the Red Death"

"The Masque of the Red Death"
This 8-page packet supports 30 vocabulary words drawn from the story.

"The Masque of the Red Death"
Online text of the story with links to vocabulary support.

"The Masque of the Red Death"
This 4-page guide for teachers offers prereading activities, vocabulary words, literary terms, and post-reading writing prompts. Adobe Reader or compatible application required for access.

"The Masque of the Red Death"
Printable text of the story.

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue"

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue"
Printable text of the story.

"The Pit and the Pendulum"

"The Pit and the Pendulum"
Follow links for a downloadable audio file OR to listen and read at the same time.

"The Pit and the Pendulum"
Audio file of the story read by actor Basil Rathbone. Available in both MP3 and Real Media formats.

"The Pit and the Pendulum"
Printable text of the story.

"The Purloined Letter"

"The Purloined Letter"
Printable text of the story.

"The Raven" and other poems

"Alone"
Follow links for a downloadable audio file OR to listen and read at the same time.

"Annabel Lee"
Follow links for a downloadable audio file OR to listen and read at the same time.

Exploring Poetry: "Annabel Lee"
This page includes a copy of the poem; a Power Point presentation on the standards, learning outcomes expected, and themes; and notes on poetic form and structure.

Pattern and Variation
This page uses "Annabel Lee" to explore the concept of patterns in poetry. It is designed for high school and older students.

"The Bells"
In this Web-based activity, students can hear the poem. They can select voice, music, and sound effects to determine what each adds to their understanding.

"A Dream Within a Dream"
Follow links for a downloadable audio file OR to listen and read at the same time.

"El Dorado"
Follow links for a downloadable audio file OR to listen and read at the same time.

"Leonainie"
The best poem Poe didn't write, "Leonainie" is a literary hoax perpetrated by Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley. This page details the poem and the plan. If Riley could write like Poe, couldn't your students, too? A great way to analyze essential elements of Poe's style.

POEtry-A Close Look at "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
Following a close reading of the poem, students use multimedia to illustrate it.

Edgar Allan Poe Poetry Readers Theater
A fun project that serves as a good introduction to both Readers Theater and four poems by Poe: "The Raven," "The Bells," "Eldorado," and "Annabel Lee."

The Interactive Raven
As students work online through each stanza, they learn alliteration, assonance, and internal rhyme. Vocabulary words are also indicated. An excellent example of using technology for education.

"The Raven"
Background analysis and emphasis on vocabulary.

"The Raven"
Follow links for a downloadable audio file OR to listen and read at the same time.

"The Raven"
Audio file of the poem read by actor Basil Rathbone. Available in both MP3 and Real Media formats.

"The Raven"
Animated video of the poem from The Simpsons. This clip is just under 7 minutes long.

"The Raven"
Video of actor John Astin in period costume reciting the poem.

"The Raven": Present at the Creation
Background information about the poem from NPR's Morning Edition. Includes related links.

Repeat After Us
Audio files of "Annabel Lee," "Eldorado," "Sonnet - To Science," "The City in the Sea," "The Raven," "To Helen." A good site for LD students, ELL students, and for those who read well and might like to record and contribute. Files are in alphabetical order by poet; scroll down.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

A Directed Listening–Thinking Activity for "The Tell-Tale Heart"
Students participate in a Directed Listening–Thinking Activity (DLTA), in which they listen to the story read aloud and answer prediction questions at designated stopping points during the reading. Students then discuss and write a written response to the story at the conclusion of the lesson, in the form of either an acrostic poem or comic strip.

Law and Order: Edgar Allan Poe
Students read "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado." They will analyze the narrators as the narrators see themselves and as the reader sees them. They will then write the script of an interrogation of one of the narrators in the style of a popular TV series. This unit is designed for 9th grade and will require 3-5 class periods of 45 minutes.

The "Producing Edgar Allen Poe" Challenge
Students produce "The Tell-Tale Heart" as a dramatic work. This unit is carefully planned.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"
Pre-reading, spelling, vocabulary, editing, and practice with verb tenses. This 5-page printable handout requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"
Follow links for a downloadable audio file OR to listen and read at the same time.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"
Online text of the story with vocabulary support.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"
Plot summary, figures of speech, more.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"
Printable text of the story.

"William Wilson"

"William Wilson"
In this Webquest students reflect upon, analyze, annotate and illustrate Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "William Wilson."