Poe's "The Raven" Was Published In 1845. | Read Write Think

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Author & Text Poe's "The Raven" was published in 1845. Date January 29 Calendar Activity Type Author & Text

Event Description

On this date in 1845, American author Edgar Allan Poe's famously eerie poem "The Raven" was published in New York Evening Mirror. Equally praised and panned by critics of the day, the poem made Poe famous throughout America and England. "The Raven" was parodied soon after its publication, and continues to be an important cultural and literary text even today.

Classroom Activity

Read aloud the opening stanzas of Poe's "The Raven." Ask students to note their reactions to the language of the poem as they listen. The following questions can guide their written or verbal responses:

• What are their impressions of the poem's speaker and atmosphere?
• What emotions/feelings might the speaker be experiencing?
• How can a reader tell the mood and tone of the poem, after hearing only the opening stanzas?
• What words, images, and details does Poe provide to create this effect?

After students have finished, glean from their responses the words and phrases Poe uses to create the voice of the speaker, a figure who is obviously not "normal." Continue reading the poem, or distribute copies to students for their own reading. Discuss the changes or development of students' first impressions as "The Raven" continues.

Websites

The Interactive Raven

This interactive study resource offers students a chance to explore the devices of alliteration, assonance, and internal rhyme, as well as learn challenging vocabulary and allusions within "The Raven."

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe

Gathered by the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore, this site includes the text of Poe's stories and poems. The homepage offers biographical information, details on geographic locations important to Poe, and other articles.

American Masters: Edgar Allan Poe

This PBS website offers biographical information about Edgar Allan Poe and links to related Internet resources.

The Philosophy of Composition

Written by Edgar Allan Poe, this essay discusses his views on writing and explains the logic and reasoning behind the choices he made in "The Raven," citing specific references and examples from the poem.

Hear Classic Readings of Poe’s "The Raven"

Hear classic readings of Poe’s "The Raven" by Vincent Price, James Earl Jones, Christopher Walken, Neil Gaiman, Stan Lee and more!

Related Resources

Grades 6 - 8 | Lesson Plan | Unit Modeling Reading and Analysis Processes with the Works of Edgar Allan Poe Explore reading strategies using Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" and other works. Students read Poe's works in both large- and small-group readings then conclude with a variety of projects. Grades 9 - 12 | Lesson Plan | Minilesson Onomatopoeia: A Figurative Language Minilesson Clang, clash, or tinkle? Students explore the use of onomatopoeia in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Bells" before choosing their own sound words in response to specific sounds. Grades 6 - 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson A Directed Listening-Thinking Activity for "The Tell-Tale Heart" What's that sound? Students participate in a Directed Listening–Thinking Activity (DLTA) using "The Tell-Tale Heart," make predictions, and respond in the form of an acrostic poem or comic strip. Grades 9 - 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson Exploring Setting: Constructing Character, Point of View, Atmosphere, and Theme Students read texts by Dybek, Dickens, Poe, and Morrison to explore how authors use language to create setting and, in turn, how setting constructs other elements in a literary work. Grades 9 - 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson Creative Outlining-From Freewriting to Formalizing After reading a short story, students use freewriting as a catalyst for a literary analysis essay. Grades 6 - 8 | Lesson Plan | Unit Thrills! Chills! Using Scary Stories to Motivate Students to Read Students examine story elements through teacher read-alouds and independent reading and then use reader-response journals and graphic organizers to prepare for the creation of their own scary stories. Grades 9 - 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson Ghosts and Fear in Language Arts: Exploring the Ways Writers Scare Readers Students analyze scary stories to 'break the code" of horror writing and use what they learn to write scary stories of their own.

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