Lesson 5 Activity 5.1 Will the Real Edgar Allan Poe please Step forward?

Lesson 5 Activity 5.2 Is there One Real Edgar Allan Poe?

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Image of door #1, door #2, and door #3.

“As for literary criticism in general: I have long felt that any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel or a play or a poem is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae or a banana split.”

― Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage^[2]

Summary: Literature is under constant scrutiny. One person reads a text and makes assumptions about the author’s intent. Another person reads the same text and gets a completely different understanding. It is the beauty and the curse of text interpretation. The richness of the voices of the Romantic writers is perfect fodder for such scrutiny; roll your sleeves up and start reading

Learning Target:

I can evaluate the value of multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem

STEP 1

Read/listen to the audio at the links for the literary criticisms on Edgar Allan Poe OR research literacy criticisms in the media center and find 2-3 of your own.

• Edgar Allan Poe and the Nightmare Ode Author(s):Dave Smith
• Poe's 'Raven': The Word That Is an Answer 'Nevermore.' Author(s):William Freedman
• Was Poe a Plagiarist? Author(s):Joel Benton

STEP 2:

Think about the literary criticisms you have just read Also, think about the impact of having different critics say different things about the author. What is the impact if the critics say the same things about the author?

STEP 3:

Take some notes from each article on the Modified Venn Diagram- making a copy for yourself. noting if there are similarities, differences, gaps or overlaps on points about Poe as an author, his writing style and his works.

In a paragraph on your Venn Diagram, summarize your reaction to reading what some critics have to say about Edgar Allan Poe. How does that influence your reaction to him as an author?

STEP 4:  

Submit your responses to Step 3.