Halloween week is the perfect time to indulge in a little Edgar Allen Poe! Today students watched a short biography of Poe, a quick video to introduce "The Raven", and a YouTube video of Christopher Walken performing this famous Poe poem. Students will work in groups to analyze the ballad structure (including elements of fiction), literary allusions, rhyme scheme, rhythm and beat, and symbolism. Next, they will work with a different group to plan a performance of two stanzas. For their performances, students will consider the use of their voices, gestures, and musical instruments to convey the mood and meaning of the words. We will wrap up this study of "The Raven" with a quiz.
If time allows later this week, we will read "The Tell-Tale Heart", also by Poe, and perhaps "The Monkey's Paw", by W.W. Jacobs.
I'm asking that students take home their "I Am From" projects this week, though I'll be sad to see them go. If you can remind your child if they haven't come home with it yet, that would be helpful.
Homework:
The only homework this week is to finish up and share with me the "Rikki Tikki Tavi" essay, if not already done (it was due at the end of last Friday's class).
