1. You Probably Remember Many Childhood Stories, Especially Fairy Tales, Beginning With

“The Raven” 1. You probably remember many childhood stories, especially fairy tales, beginning with the phrase, “Once upon a time.” That phrase is usually a signal that the story will have imaginary characters and events – and a happy ending. Poe’s poem begins, “Once upon a midnight dreary.” How does that phrase change what you expect?

2. This selection contains many long, complicated sentences. To help you understand the poem, break down long sentences as you read. Start by looking for the core of the sentence. Find the subject and the predicate (verb). Now, re-read the lines 1 – 4 carefully. List the subject and predicate. Rewrite the sentence in your own words.

3. A narrative poem has the same elements that you find in a story, such as characters, plot, and setting. What is the setting of this poem?

4. What does the speaker find when he opens his door the first time?

5. Re-read lines 31 and 32. Break down this long sentence as you read. Look for the core of the sentence. Then re-write the sentence in your own words.

6. Gothic writing influenced Poe greatly. Gothic novels usually take place in old, gloomy castles where frightening supernatural events happen (see page 291 in your textbook under “Literary Analysis” for more info in gothic literature). What gothic elements have you noticed so far in this poem?

7. What happens when the speaker opens his “shutter”?

8. What is the single effect Poe is trying to achieve in lines 49 – 60?

9. Has anyone ever told you that your imagination is running away with you? The speaker of this poem is letting his imagination run away with him. What clue do you have that he is?

10. Re-read lines 79 – 90. The speaker is angry at the raven here. What is the single effect Poe is trying to achieve in these stanzas?

11. What is the single effect Poe is trying to achieve in the repeating of the word, “Nevermore”?