Lesson 2

Edgar Allan Poe's

"Cask of Amontillado" (for full text, click here)

and

"The Tell-Tale Heart" (for full text, click here)

Bellringer

• Look at the pictures above and answer the following questions:
  • What do you see in the above pictures?
  • Who do you think these people are? Why do you think that?

• After examining each photograph, answer the following questions:
  • What are some differences and similarities that you notice while comparing the four(4) photographs?
• Objectives(Students will be able to):
  • Understand the elements of the genres of horror, mystery, and gothic
  • Diagram the elements of plot development in both stories
  • Explain the psychological conflicts of the each protagonist
  • Defend the actions of each protagonist in both stories
  • Explain whether the men would be considered legally insane or legally guilty with respect to their criminal actions
  • Write a newspaper frontpage depicting the events of the stories from a journalist's perspective
• Input
  • For a definition of horror click here
  • For Poe's Biographical Information, click here
  • People define horror as many different things. Nowadays, we define horror in primarily two media, film and literature. In Poe's time, there was no such defined genre. The genre of horror was primarily known as gothic literature. The first known text was called "The Castle of Otranto." Click here for a link to information about this text as well information about the genre defined on this website as mystery
  • Here is a concise timeline showing Poe and other other authors who have been cited as mystery, horror, or gothic writers
    • Horace Walpole (1717-1797) author of "Castle of Otranto" click here
    • Mary Shelley (1797-1851) whose most famous work is "Frankenstein" click here
    • Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) other websites
      • Another biographical website which chronicles events in Poe's life click here
    • H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) unofficial archive website click here
    • Stephen King (1947-present) official website click here
  • For an excellent website on the gothic novel click here
• Practice interactive lessons
  • For more biographical information about Edgar Allan Poe as well as information about selected works click here (this link contains many interactive activities)
  • Part of this assignment deals with writing. Use the following link and create a Newspaper title page depicting events from either "Cask of Amontillado" or "The Tell-Tale Heart" click here
  • This assignment deals strictly with Edgar Allan Poe and his narrative style. Click the following link to go to an interactive lesson dealing with this concept click here
  • The following link is for an Edgar Allan Poe webquest. You will use this website to make your own determination as to how Poe's life influenced his writing style click here
  • The following link will help you diagram the plot of each of the two short stories. Use this link to show what you think each story's exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution click here

• Closure questions
  • Define the basic elements of plot development in the two stories. What would you consider to be the exposition, climax, etc.?
  • What are the major conflicts within the novel? What causes these conflicts?
  • How would you define the actions of the characters in the novel? Were the actions of these characters rational? If so, why? If not, why?
  • To which character do you most relate? why?