Summary
What does the raven really mean? In this lesson, students analyze Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven" to uncover the meaning behind its iconic symbol. Then, they create free verse poems, using symbolism to express themselves.
Essential Question(s)
How are ideas communicated through symbols in poetry?
Snapshot
Engage
Students complete a Quick Write to describe what the displayed symbols mean to them.
Explore
Students will read and analyze "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.
Explain
Students watch a video defining symbolism and complete a CER over the symbolism in Poe’s “The Raven.”
Extend
Students will compose a free verse poem featuring symbols that represent themselves.
Evaluate
Students will reflect on their learning using the How Am I Feeling? What Am I Thinking? strategy.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe (attached; one per student)
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (attached; one per student)
Symbols of Me Poem (attached; one per student)
Sticky notes
Highlighters
Engage
10 Minute(s)
Introduce the lesson using the attached Lesson Slides. Go over the essential question and learning objectives on slides 3-4.
Transition to slide 5 and introduce students to the Quick Write instructional strategy. Instruct students to complete their quick write by responding to the prompt on the slide:
"What do these parts of human anatomy represent to you?"
Allow students 3-5 minutes to complete the task. When students have finished, instruct them to discuss their writing with a partner for a few minutes before moving to a whole class discussion in which students may share their thoughts with the class.
Explore
15 Minute(s)
Move to slide 6 and distribute copies of “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe (attached) and highlighters.
Introduce students to the Why-Lighting instructional strategy. Instruct students to read through the poem and use their highlighter to mark anything they believe to be important. Remind them to take time to write down in the margins of their paper why they chose to highlight a word, a phrase or a sentence.
When students have finished reading, transition to slide 8 and divide students into pairs. Instruct students to discuss the passages they highlighted with their partners. After a few minutes, facilitate a whole class discussion and ask for groups to share their thoughts.
Explain
40 Minute(s)
Transition to slide 9 and play the video on the slide, What is Symbolism?
When the video ends, move to slide 10 and direct students to work with an Elbow Partner to think of symbols to represent the concepts listed on the slide. Allow 5-10 minutes for students to work.
Transition to slide 11 and introduce students to the Stand Up, Sit Down instructional strategy. Instruct students to stand. Begin having pairs share what symbol they came up with for each concept. Make sure to do this for each concept individually. If a symbol is identified that another pair used, direct that pair to sit down. Continue until everyone is sitting and repeat the process for each symbol as time allows.
Move to slide 12 and introduce students to the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning instructional strategy. Direct students to complete the graphic organizer using the instructions on the slide. Allow students 10-15 minutes to complete the graphic organizer.
When your students have finished, ask for volunteers to share their thoughts. During the discussion, take time to answer any clarifying questions about symbolism and clear up any misconceptions.
Extend
35 Minute(s)
Move to slide 13 and distribute the Symbols of Me Poem handout (attached).
Inform students that they will create a free-verse poem about themselves using symbolism. Instruct them to follow the steps on their handout to create their poem and allow 25-30 minutes for students to work.
When students have completed their poems, ask whether anyone would like to share their poem with the class. As these poems are personal, do not pressure students to share if they do not wish to. Direct students to turn in their work when they are finished.
Evaluate
5 Minute(s)
Once students have completed their own free verse poem, pass out a sticky note to each student. Move to slide 14 and introduce the How Am I Feeling? What Am I Thinking? strategy. Have students draw a line diagonally across the sticky note to divide it in half. On one half of the sticky note, have students draw a picture to symbolize how they feel about what they have learned in this lesson. On the other half, have students write a sentence explaining what they understand now about symbolism. This could be a question or comment about what they have learned or a description of the experience.
Once students have completed both parts of the sticky note, have them attach it to their paragraph/poem and hand both in. Both can be used to assess individual student understanding.
Resources
Chungdahm Learning. (n.d.). What is symbolism? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vwek28P9Gk
K20 Center. (n.d.). Claim, evidence, reasoning (CER). Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/156
K20 Center. (n.d.). Elbow partners. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/116
K20 Center. (n.d.). How am I feeling? What am I thinking? Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/187
K20 Center. (n.d.). Quick write. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/1127
K20 Center. (n.d.). Why-lighting. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/128
Poe Museum. (n.d.). Poe and his circle filled ladies’ albums with poetry.
Rickman, Alan, (n.d.). “The Raven” by Edgard Allan Poe. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guEuZMwdhY4
Wikimedia Commons. (2024 February 14). Caucasian Human Skull.jpg. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Caucasian_Human_Skull.jpg&oldid=851823403.
Wikimedia Commons. (2023 June 5). Human heart male adult autopsy.jpg. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_heart_male_adult_autopsy.jpg
