“The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe: Setting and Tone

This is a nice “take a break from non-stop writing” sort of lesson plan, and it appeals to those future Van Gogh’s and Picassos in your classroom, as well. Using Poe’s delightfully melancholy and bizarre poem, “The Raven,” students discuss first how setting creates tone which then creates mood for the reader. It is a literary domino effect, so to speak! Reading with purpose, underline examples of descriptive words describing setting and creating tone and then students are assigned a creative drawing project with a small written component, as well as a rubric to build success for all on both students' illustration and writing assignments. Included is a hard copy of "The Raven" as well as a Youtube link to James Earl Jones reading "The Raven" so, if you wish, you can have the voice behind Darth Vadar (kids will love this connection!) read to students while they follow along as a pre-reading activity, the reading activity, etc, etc, Have fun and enjoy! Rockermom