Text Set: Edgar Allan Poe

TEXT SET OF EDGAR ALLAN POE

EDUC 3523 - Teaching Reading in Content Areas

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For my text set, I chose to do a theme of the author/poet Edgar Allan Poe. I sort of had in mind that I would use these resources to teach a thematic unit for 7^th graders in language arts/literature class.  The several resources that I chose are a collection of his own works, adaptations of his works, biographies about him, and videos and websites that have kept some of his stories alive and present into the lives of the generations that have come after his time. My hope, or goal, in choosing these resources for this unit plan is that I want my students to know the variety of Poe’s works, but also the life that he led. Of course, we would go through some of his more well known works and discuss why some people have casted him as a dark man because of those particular works, but I also want to explore some of the overlooked works as well, and have discussions pertaining to the life he led.

Books

Fiction:

Higgins Clark, M, Cook, T.H, & Hall, J.W., & et al. (2009). On a Raven's Wing: New Tales in Honor of Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Harper Paperbacks.

            This book contains a compilation of stories by 20 different authors who have created stories in honor of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic poems and short stories. Teachers can use this book to show creativity among writers who have looked to Poe for inspiration.

Poe, E.A. (Ed.). (1992). The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Barnes & Noble.

            This big book contains all of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories and poems. This would be a good resource for the teacher instead of individual use by the student. The teacher can choose selections to read aloud to the class, and then have discussions about the selections read.

Poe, E.A, & Grimly, G. (2004). Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Madness. USA: Atheneum.

            This book is an adaptation of four of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short stories: "The Black Cat," "The Masque of the Red Death," "Hop-Frog," and "The Fall of the House of Usher." The various illustrations and fonts make this animated book an interesting and engaging book for individual use of the students.

Poe, E.A, & Pomplun, T. (4^th Ed.). (2010). Graphic Classics: Edgar Allan Poe. USA: Eureka Productions.

            This is a graphic novel which contains 13 selections of Poe’s short stories and poems, such as “The Tell Tale Heart” and “The Raven.” Teachers can allow this to be an individual reading selection for students who choose to read it.

Poe, E.A, Price, V, & Borssard, C. (Ed.). (1965). 18 Best Stories By Edgar Allan Poe. USA: Dell.

            This book is a compilation balance of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories. The text may get difficult, so it would be best if teachers used this as a read aloud experience rather than let students read it individually.

Nonfiction:

Lange, K. (Ed.). (2009). Nevermore: A Photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe . USA: National Geographic Children's Books.

This book is a biography of Edgar Allan Poe’s life, and contains photos and illustrations of Poe and various places and items to create a more real and intimate look at the author. Teachers can use this book as a teaching tool, or have it available for individual use.

Quinn, A.H. (1998). Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

A biographical book detailing the life of Edgar Allan Poe. Teachers can read aloud this book to the class, or get helpful information to discuss about Poe during the lessons.

Streissguth, T. (2007). Edgar Allan Poe: Just the Facts Biographies. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company.

            This book gives a brief overlook of the life of Edgar Allan Poe and contains pictures and illustrations. This could be a book students can individually read on their own.

Audio Books:

Goringe, C. (2005). The Raven. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.archive.org/details/raven.

A Librivox (website sharing public domain stories in audio formats) audio recording of “The Raven,” read by Chris Goringe. Duration: 9 minutes, 30 seconds. Teachers can set the classroom up to where students can go to this link and hear the audio reading of this poem.

Internet Resources

Videos:

Biography.com. The Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/video.do?name=edgarallanpoe&bcpid=19658108001&bclid=1859715279&bctid=1861298412.

The Biography Channel’s video documentary detailing the life of Edgar Allan Poe, presented in five parts. Teachers can schedule a day in which they will have the class watch this documentary and then form discussions afterwards.  

Clark, Jim. (2008). Edgar Allan Poe: The Raven Poem Animation Movie. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p99rf63jCE.

Played to an audio of someone reading the poem, this “virtual movie” has a photo of Edgar Allan Poe manipulated as though he is actually reading the poem of “The Raven.” Teachers can show this video after reading through the poem, so that the students can see how Poe would look like if he had actually recited the poem to them.  

FlocabularyYT. (2009). Pit and the Pendulum: Edgar Allan Poe Rap. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmn79SoZ4-k.

The story of Edgar Allan Poe’s Pit and the Pendulum presented in the form of a rap. Teachers can show this as an example of creativity, and possibly have the class form their own rap or song using one of Poe’s short works.

Jmcusack .(2006). Tell Tale Heart Animation. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4s9V8aQu4c.

This is an animated cartoon of the short story “The Tell Tale Heart.” The video lends suspense to the story, and provides a look at the story through the narrator’s perspective. Duration: 7 minutes, 48 seconds. Teachers can show this video after reviewing the short story version, and then they can have discussions.

MasterMagi (2007). The Raven: Edgar Allen Poe. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FID1CiB4bcU.

Read and performed by the late actor Vincent Price. The setting mirrors that of the story, and Price reads the poem and acts out the scenes as things happen in real life as he reads it (e.g., knocking coming from the door, thunder outside, and a key visitor, the raven). Duration: 9 minutes and 58 seconds. Teachers can show this video after reviewing “The Raven” just to show them how it would be performed if it were a play.

Websites:

Giordano, R. (n.d.). Poestories.com: An Exploration of Short Stories By Edgar Allan Poe. Retrieved from http://poestories.com/index.php.

This website contains Edgar Allan Poe’s written work, including quotes, short stories, poems, and summaries. It also gives a timeline of Poe’s life in adjacent to other historical events happening around the world at the time, and includes a brief biography of Poe as well. It’s a great tool for teachers to print off Poe’s works, or show the timeline for a social studies discussion.

Knowing Poe. Retrieved from http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/default_flash.asp.

            This website is an interactive website designed for middle school and high school students, in effort of presenting Poe’s life and works in an engaging, educational format. Students can select stories or poems to read and play. The audio versions contain music, and students can follow along with the text. Plus, select words are formatted to where the students can hover over them and definitions are shown so that students can understand the word.

Poe Museum. Students. Retrieved from http://www.poe200th.com/students.php.

The Poe Museum has several resources for students in its Students section of its website. Students can watch an animation of the short story The Tell Tale Heart, and students can complete quizzes, investigate Poe’s death, read his biography, and even join a writing contest. This is a great website for all things Edgar Allan Poe; a great resource for teachers.