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A Student’s Companion toA Student’s Companion toA Student’s Companion to Selected Works of Selected Works of Selected Works of

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe by Dori Anne Abbott &by Dori Anne Abbott &by Dori Anne Abbott &

Robert W. WatsonRobert W. WatsonRobert W. Watson

Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe / 1

Introduction to Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe

C ALLED by many “the dark genius of the short story,” Edgar Allan Poe is a pivotal figure in American literature. Born in Boston, Poe grew up in Richmond, Virginia. His parents were

both actors. At the time of Poe’s birth, acting as a profession was regarded by many as silly at best, and evil at worst. Thus when Poe was orphaned at the age of two, prospective adoptive parents were reluctant to take this child of actors in.

The Allan family did finally step in to support the young child, but Mr. Allan refused to give Poe his name. This refusal would later cause much bitterness in Poe—a bitterness that showed itself in fits of temper and rebellious behavior. When Edgar was six, the Allan family moved to England where they lived for five years.

Back in Richmond, Poe was matriculated at the University of Virginia where drunkenness, gambling, and other hellish behaviors were commonplace. Poe floundered morally in this environment. Not only did he have a propensity towards drinking, Poe also gambled recklessly, running up enormous debts which he could not repay. Mr. Allan removed young Poe out of the university, forcing him into a menial job with one of Allan’s counting houses to pay off the money he owed. As revenge, Poe ran off and joined the army under a false name. Not having the fortitude to stay in the army, Poe begged help from his foster father. Mr. Allan paid for Poe’s release. During this tumultuous time period, Poe had two collections of poems published: Tamerlane and Other Poems and Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems.

For some strange reason Poe decided to reenter the army. Poe was accepted at West Point where he eventually got himself expelled for deliberately cutting classes and drills. Mr. Allen would now have nothing to do with Poe because of his constant trouble. Indeed Poe once described himself as a person whom “unmerciful disaster followed fast and followed faster” Having now no permanent home, Poe moved to Baltimore and lived with his aunt, Maria (Poe) Clemm.

In 1833, Poe won a fifty-dollar prize for his short story, “M.S. Found in a Bottle.” Befriended by one of the contest judges, Poe sold an article to the Southern Literary Messenger Magazine; then he joined the editorial staff there, eventually becoming its chief editor. Poe moved the Clemms to Richmond, and married his young cousin, Virginia Clemm.

Trouble followed Poe again as he was dismissed from the Messenger for drinking. A move to New York proved profitable for the Poe family. During his stay in New York, Poe published “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym,” which was so accurate in detail that many thought it was a true sea voyage. The next move was to Philadelphia where Poe became the editor for Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine. Poe wrote a monthly feature for the magazine—usually some tale of horror or the supernatural. Later he would publish a collection of these featured stories as Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque.

When Burton’s was sold, Poe stayed on as the editor of its successor, Graham’s Magazine. Many believe that Graham’s was the most important American magazine of its time. In this magazine, Poe wrote the first detective story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” that introduced the world to Dupin the detective of logical deductions. After a move back to New York in 1843, Poe reached the height of his fame when “The Raven” was published. Still desperately poor, Poe moved from one editorial job to another. Though he was a gifted critic and talented editor, his struggles with alcoholism and emotional instability caused him to lose jobs at a phenomenal rate, because he offended those who could most help him in his career.

2 / Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe

Poe was admired by many readers, despite his rancorous demeanor, and his wife and her mother adored him at home. Poe in turn tenderly loved Virginia who was dying of tuberculosis. After Virginia’s death, Poe gave in to all his eccentricities (some say he went mad), wandering from city to city until eventually he died in a gutter in Baltimore, the city where he had found his beloved wife. His last days were unfitting for such a great talent.

The importance of Edgar Allan Poe to American literature cannot be under-estimated. Poe alone transformed the short story into a recognized literary genre, creating the detective story, and perfecting the psychological thriller. Jules Verne, Rudyard Kipling, and Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) were greatly influenced by Poe. In modern times, everything from Agatha Christie to Murder She Wrote finds its roots in Poe’s detective stories.

Poe’s literary criticism influenced the entire literary world. Poe’s criticism of the New York literati was especially harsh, because he felt that the Northern “talent” was overrated, while genius like that of Augustus Baldwin Longstreet and William Gilmore Simms (both Southerners) was deliberately ignored.

As with so many American authors, Poe received the respect he deserved long after his death. West Point now has a gate (the Poe Gate) over which is inscribed a quotation from Francis Bacon: “There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion.” Edgar Allan Poe’s works are a living testament to the truth of Bacon’s words.

DORI ANNE ABBOTT

Selected Stories of Edgar Allan Poe Lesson One

To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.—Deuteronomy 32:35 1.1 Vocabulary

placid adj. caprice n. demeanor n. cerements n. 1.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. placid calm serene agitate

2. caprice whim bravery notion

3. demeanor laughter mien deportment

4. cerements winding cloth glue shroud 1.3 Reading Assignment: “Ligeia” in The Gold-Bug and Other Tales 1.4 Recall Questions

1. Where did the narrator meet Ligeia?


2. How does the narrator describe Romance?

3. What must be present, according to Bacon, Lord Verulum, in order to have exquisite beauty?

4. In the poem, “Conquering Worm,” who is the hero in the tragedy called “Man”? Why?

5. What is the name of the second wife of the narrator?

6. Why does the narrator believe he would fall into the goblet of his wife when she was ill?

7. What quality did Ligeia possess that enabled her to “beat death?”

1.5 Critical Thinking

Is it possible to “beat death?” Explain what the Bible says about death.

Explain how does Poe creates terror in this story. 1.6 Bonus Thoughts

Why her? Readers may wonder why Poe is always killing people off in his stories; especially beautiful, young women like Ligeia. The answer lies in Poe’s philosophy of literature written in his works of literary criticism. In his essay, “The Philosophy of Composition,” Poe states that “the death then of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most poetic topic in the world.”


Selected Stories of Edgar Allan Poe Lesson Two

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not.—John 1:5 2.1 Vocabulary

trepidation n. gossamer adj. vivacious adj. cataleptic adj. 2.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. trepidation dread circulation apprehension

2. gossamer lucid tenuous sheer

3. vivacious spirited ferocious lively

4. cataleptic stiff rigid disastrous 2.3 Reading Assignment: “The Fall of the House of Usher” in The Gold-Bug and Other Tales

Note: Although this tale may not seem hideous to modern readers, those who read the story during Poe’s day appreciated the terror of Roderick Usher in fearing Madeline would be buried alive. Many prominent citizens of the day coerced their private physicians to sign papers stating that they would decapitate their bodies, open a major artery, or pierce their hearts in an attempt to ensure that they were really dead. Being buried alive was considered a fate worse than death. 2.4 Recall Questions

1. How did the narrator know Roderick Usher?

2. From what was Roderick Usher suffering?

3. What did Usher assume would kill him?


How does the opening line prepare the reader emotionally for this tale? Can you name some other great opening lines from other books?

Poe describes Roderick Usher’s mind as an object from which “darkness, as if an inherent positive quality, poured forth upon all objects of the moral and physical universe, in one unceasing radiation of gloom.” Is it possible for this to be true? Can darkness overcome light; or does light dispel darkness? Give a Scripture reference to support your answer.

2.6 Bonus Thoughts

Appellation—what’s in a name? The word appellation comes from the French “apel” which means name. The importance of names can be seen in history and throughout Scripture where God commanded certain names like John the Baptist and Jesus, and where


He changed certain names like Abram to Abraham; and Jacob to Israel. Poe makes good use of names when he uses “Usher” which sounds like “shh,” and “undertaker.”

Selected Stories of Edgar Allan Poe Lesson Three

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures—Acts 17:2 3.1 Vocabulary

enigma n. conundrum n. hieroglyphic n. acumen n. 3.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. enigma conundrum riddle mistake

2. hieroglyphic consortium pictorial character

3. acumen insight zenith keenness 3.3 Reading Assignment: “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” in The Gold-Bug and Other

Tales 3.4 Recall Questions

1. According to the narrator, which requires more mental skill: card games or chess?

2. In Paris, what relationship does the narrator have with C. Auguste Dupin?

3. What ability does Dupin have that astounds the narrator?

4. Where was the body of the daughter, Camille L’Espanaye, discovered?

5. Who was arrested for the murder and what was the person’s connection with Madame L’Espanaye?

6. For what two reasons does Dupin have an interest in the murder case?

7. With regard to the shrill voice, Dupin states that what is important is not that the witnesses disagreed about the language spoken, but that they all agreed concerning what?

8. Which window did Dupin deduce was the egress of the murderer?


9. According to Dupin, how was the escape of the murderer accomplished?

10. What evidence taken from Madame L’Espanaye’s hand does Dupin give to the narrator that suggested that the murderer was not human?

11. How did Dupin deduce that the owner of the animal was sailor belonging to a Maltese ship?

12. What was the intention of the sailor regarding the animal when he came to Paris?

13. What did the sailor use to control the animal which at its sight caused it to flee into the streets?


Is the introduction about games of chance an effective way to begin this story? Why or why not?

Do card games increase mental acumen? Why or why not? 3.6 Bonus Thoughts

A posteriori and a priori: These two terms are found in philosophical writings. A posteriori (Latin “later”) designates the method of reasoning when general conclusions are derived from facts and other specific evidence. This kind of reasoning is said to be inductive and empirical; therefore, scientific experiments operate under this reasoning. On the other hand, a priori (Latin “former”) is anything that is based on generally accepted principles or theories. A priori assertions are not proven by experimentation. For an example, any discussion about the origin of the earth and man is a priori. It is impossible to duplicate the process of creation or of evolution in the science lab. Since both Creationism and Evolution cannot be verified in a laboratory, proponents for these two competing worldviews must be confined to theory, or faith.

Logic: During the Middle Ages and right up into the Renaissance, a liberally educated student studied the trivium. The three subjects that comprise the trivium are grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Grammar teaches the student to use language correctly and rhetoric helps the student to persuade his audience. On the other hand, logic looks at the validity of reasoning. Unconsciously, you make dozens of decisions every day based on logic. There are two accepted forms of logical reasoning: induction and deduction. Inductive logic takes specific facts in order to produce a general conclusion. In science, this reasoning is called the scientific method. However, deductive logic takes general principles in order to derive a specific conclusion. In today’s story, see if you are able to find examples of these two kinds of logic.

Malta: The country of Malta is three islands in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. The island nation has a long history that has been influenced by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Saracens, and Normans. In 1530, Malta was given to the Hospitalers, a military order where the knights were also priests. The Hospitalers wore red garments with a white “Maltese” cross. In 1798, Malta became a part of France and then in 1800, Great Britain took possession of the island. In 1964, Malta became an independent nation.


Selected Stories of Edgar Allan Poe

Lesson Four If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works?—Proverbs 24:11 4.1 Vocabulary

locution n. lucid adj. epoch n. insuperable adj. 4.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. locution phraseology expression vicinity

2. lucid sane irrational intelligible

3. epoch climax eon era

4. insuperable avoidable required necessary 4.3 Reading Assignment: “The Masque of the Red Death” and “The Pit and the Pendulum” in

The Gold-Bug and Other Tales 4.4 Recall Questions

1. What did Prospero do when the villages under his care (his domains) were depopulated by the Red Death?

2. How did Prospero make sure the Red Death could not come into his castle?

3. What word would best describe Prospero’s tastes and style?

4. How did Prospero pay for neglecting his suffering neighbors?

5. What is the dominant color in this story?

6. In “The Pit and the Pendulum,” where did the narrator think he had ended up?

7. From what did the narrator’s fall save him?

8. After the narrator discovered the pit, what did his torturers do?


9. How did the narrator escape death the second time?

10. After he was free from the pendulum, what did the narrator notice about the walls of his prison?

11. What happy ending does this story have?


In “The Masque of the Red Death,” what does Poe mean when he says that one of the masqueraders “out-Heroded Herod?” (p. 60)

What significance does color play in this story? Do these colors represent symbols?

Why do you think the narrator was being tortured? Hint: The inquisition mentioned in the story was the Spanish Inquisition.

Is it sometimes right to do wrong in order that “right” will win in the end? Why or why not?

4.6 Bonus Thoughts

Perspective: When an author writes, he must choose what person the story will be told in. Edgar Allan Poe often chooses first person perspective where he inserts himself into the story as the narrator. Third person perspective tells a tale without the author having actually been there. First person is subjective writing and leads to a more emotional style. Third person writing is more objective and leads to a cerebral style, a style that appeals to the intellect.

Selected Stories of Edgar Allan Poe

Lesson Five “A sound heart is the life of the flesh…”—Proverbs 14:30

5.1 Vocabulary

Note: All of today’s vocabulary words are nouns derived from adjectives. Poe seems especially fond of these words. See how many you can find in his stories.

suavity n. sagacity n. audacity n. definitiveness n. 5.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. suavity smoothness laundry agreeableness

2. sagacity blindness wisdom foresight

3. audacity recklessness timorousness daring

4. definitiveness precision authority conjugation


5.3 Reading Assignment: “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado” in The Gold-Bug and Other Tales 5.4 Recall Questions

1. Why did the narrator want to kill the old man?

2. According to the narrator, what is mistaken for madness?

3. How did the narrator hide the dead body?

4. Why did the narrator turn himself in?

5. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” according to the narrator, what are the rules of revenge?

6. What was Fortunato’s one weakness?

7. How did the narrator prove he was a mason?

8. What do you suppose the Latin phrase at the end of the story means?


In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” what proof does the narrator give that he is not mad (crazy)? In your opinion, do these traits prove him sane or insane? Have you ever heard about a criminal with these traits?

Explain what role, if any, does the conscience play in “The Tell-Tale Heart.”

In “The Cask of Amontillado,” how did the narrator follow the rules of revenge as stated on p. 116?

5.6 Bonus Thoughts

Carnival: In Italy, as in many Catholic countries, citizens celebrate “Carnival.” Carnival can take place anytime between January 6th (12th night) and the beginning of Lent (Ash Wednesday). Usually Carnival takes place on the four days before Lent (the traditional observance of our Lord’s time of suffering). The day before Ash Wednesday is called Mardi Gras, which literally means, “Fat Tuesday.” The word probably comes from the tradition of parading a fattened ox down the main street of the city before lent. Even though the word carnival literally means “removal of meat,” this festival is marked by reveling and drunkenness. However, after Carnival, many Catholics give up meat, desserts, and other indulgences during Lent as another way to accumulate good works.

Amontillado is a dry sherry, or Spanish wine. The word is comes from a small town in southern Spain, Montilla.


Selected Stories of Edgar Allan Poe Lesson Six

6.1 Vocabulary

mortification n. coppice n. entomological adj. abstruse adj. 6.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. mortification shame humiliation autopsy

2. coppice pond thicket grove

3. entomological biological zoological astronomical

4. abstruse recondite obtuse bewildering 6.3 Reading Assignment: “The Gold-Bug” in The Gold-Bug and Other Tales 6.4 Recall Questions

1. Why was Legrand living in a hut on Sullivan’s Island?

2. What did Legrand say was the most beautiful thing in the world?

3. Why did Jupiter think that Legrand was sick?

4. What did Kidd do to ensure secrecy?


Give some examples of how Legrand’s preoccupation gave the impression of madness.

Make up a cryptic code or alphabet of your own. Write a message in code and see if a friend can figure it out!

6.6 Bonus Thoughts

Viewpoint: It has been said that if six persons were to see a car accident, and each were asked to describe the incident, one would hear six different tales. Viewpoint is the angle at which the author wants the reader to see the facts. The reader’s thoughts and emotions can be influenced or even manipulated by an author’s viewpoint. For instance, it is hard to believe from reading Poe’s description of Sullivan’s Island that it is one of South Carolina’s foremost resort areas, commanding a hefty price for lodging, food, and entertainment. His viewpoint shows the island as deserted, isolated, and primitive. Can you think of an example from a recent book, movie, or television drama where the author’s viewpoint tried to manipulate your emotions?


Introduction to the Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe

T HE POETRY of Edgar Allan Poe is hauntingly beautiful. As you read Poe’s works, you will note that most of his poems center on the theme of death. Poe’s fixation on death is not because he was a morbid writer who enjoyed thinking about mortality. To

Poe, death and beauty are closely related. Poe believes that the Beautiful can only find legitimate expression in poetry, because poetry affects the emotions. According to Poe, nothing quite stirs the emotions like the contemplation of death. The next section about Poe’s philosophy about Beauty should help you to understand a little more about this connection between Beauty and death.

These next few days will not make you an expert with Poe. I intend for you to become familiar with some of the best poems of Poe. You will not be studying these poems from a technical viewpoint. While you should notice the use of sounds, figurative language, and other devices that mark the art of poetry, and more importantly you should concentrate on the meaning of the poems. I warn you—you must read each poem several times in order to get even an initial meaning of the poet. Nevertheless, even if you seem to struggle with Poe’s meaning (like so many of us), you will be aware that something unusual is taking place with the words. Take your time and read carefully.

Poe’s Philosophy of Beauty

W HENEVER I consider writing about Edgar Allan Poe, I become embarrassed—embarrassed by the immense amount of excellent material produced by this man. Poe excels equally as a poet, as a storyteller, and as a literary critic. Poe’s writings,

particularly his poems, appeal to those who feel deeply about life—not with the mind or with the heart, but with the soul. Poe’s poetry requires the reader to consider the Beautiful, which is the soul striving for perfection. Whether drawn by the rhythm, the words, or the subject expressed, the soul of the sensitive reader becomes aware that something beautiful is happening in Poe’s poetry. Indeed, Poe discusses this awareness of Beauty in his essay, “The Philosophy of Composition,” where he reveals the domain, the tone, and the topic of Beauty.

Regarding literature, Beauty’s domain is poetry. Poetry speaks to the soul and thus belongs to the realm of art. The only justification for poetry is that it fulfills a purpose that prose is unable to do. Poe points out that “effects should be made to spring from direct causes—that objects should be attained through means best adapted for their attainment.” If the goal is to enlighten the mind with Truth, then the writer should use prose because Truth requires precision. Likewise, if the goal is to raise the passions of the heart, then prose is the better vehicle. But to elevate the soul, poetry is necessary. Poe correctly states that Beauty is not a quality, but rather an effect. Spiritually speaking, since the soul is the seat of our emotions, how we react to Beauty reveals the state of our souls. The redeemed soul recognizes that Beauty inspires true worship and holiness (Psalm 29:2).

Next, Beauty’s tone is sadness. Poe argues that “Beauty of whatever kind in its supreme development invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears.” While joy and laughter can cause tears, sadness almost always does so. For most of us, we think it strange to connect sadness with Beauty. However, if we remember that Beauty is an effect, not a quality, then we can easily see the connection. Profound sadness affects the soul like no other emotion. I know of a young man whose brother was a diabetic. One night, this young man cried himself to sleep because his brother could no longer eat any ice cream. We may think this silly, but to this young sensitive soul, this was a great sadness. The result of these tears was the perfecting of a soul that before had a bent towards selfishness. He ensured that he never ate any ice cream in


the presence of his brother, nor did he allow others to do so as well. In Housman’s poem, “Terence, This is Stupid Stuff,” Terence’s friends accuse the young poet of killing them with his poetry “before their time / Moping melancholy mad.” Terence replies to his friends that even though his poetry may be sad, the poetry has inoculated them against the coming heartbreaks and “embittered” hours. Yes, sadness helps perfect the soul.

Finally, Beauty’s topic is death. Referring to his “Raven,” Poe asks himself what is the most melancholy of subjects. Poe concludes that it is death and that it is most poetical when connected with Beauty. Then he adds, “the death then of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most poetic topic in the world.” If the idea that Beauty is associated with sadness appears strange, then certainly Beauty’s association with death may seem even stranger. A soldier who sees death on the battlefield, or nurses and doctors who witness death daily may fail to see what is so beautiful about death. But, once again, if Beauty is an effect, what then hastens a soul towards perfection faster than the contemplation of death? Perhaps one of the most beautiful passages of poetry ever written is found in the Bible, Isaiah chapter 53. While “there is no beauty that we should desire him” (a quality), we reflect deeply concerning the sorrow of the Savior and his rejection by men (an effect). Thinking about the death of Christ on the cross moves the sensitive soul who has been touched by the Holy Spirit. Yes, the old rugged cross has a “wondrous attraction” for many.

According to Poe, Beauty takes place whenever souls experience poetry that centers on the sorrows connected with death. Poe’s philosophy of Beauty provides some insight into why death holds a universal fascination with mankind. Men are restless souls who are trying to find meaning and Beauty in life. Ironically, in order to find life, the soul must die to self. True perfecting of the soul comes by reading and by obeying the Scriptures. Then will the perfected soul contemplate “Zion, the perfection of beauty,” while worshipping the Lord “in the beauty of holiness.”

ROBERT W. WATSON

Selected Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe Lesson Seven

7.2 Vocabulary

fervid adj. pall n. eminence n. videlicet adv. 7.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. fervid ardent furtive passionate

2. pall coffin obscurity precipice

3. eminence vale mount hill

4. videlicet viz. namely et cetera 7.3 Reading Assignment: The Raven and Other Favorite Poems, pp. 1–11


7.4 Recall Questions

1. In “I saw thee on thy bridal day—,” what is the object that commands the poet’s attention?

2. What does the poet mean when he states “its glow hath raised a fiercer flame / In the breast of him”?

3. In “Dreams,” what does “A chaos of deep passion” refer to? What is this thing contrasted to?

4. How many times did “some power” bind the speaker in the poem?

5. In “Spirits of the Dead,” why are thoughts and visions liken unto dew-drops?

6. What is “a symbol and a token” in stanza V? Can we understand this symbol?

7. In “Evening Star,” why does the speaker admire the Evening Star more than the moon?

8. In that the Evening Star is the planet Venus, named after the goddess of Love, does this help explain the poem?

9. In “A Dream within a Dream,” how does the speaker describe hope that seems to vanish?

10. What is the tone of this poem?

11. In “Stanzas,” what two possibilities does the narrator suggest are the reasons for his thinking in stanza 2?

12. What took place on the “The Happiest Day, the Happiest Hour” that the poet ever knew?

13. Why doesn’t the poet desire to relive the “brightest hour”?

14. In “The Lake,” what kind of terror did the narrator experience at night by the lake?

15. What was the “jewelled mine” unable to do.

16. In “Sonnet—To Science,” what is the poet’s complaint?

17. In “Romance,” what two birds are contrasted?

18. In the poem “The bowers whereat, in dreams, I see,” what three things does the poet speak of concerning his lover?


19. In the poem “To the River—,” according to the poet, what is the “emblem of the glow / Of beauty”?

20. Why does the lover resemble the river after the girl looks into the water?

21. In the poem “I heed not that my earthly lot,” what is forgotten in the “hatred of a minute”?

22. While the poem states that he is not moved by poverty, hatred, or envy, he is however moved by what?

23. In “Fairy-Land,” the poet states that “They use that moon no more / For the same end as before—.” What was the moon used as?

24. What brings the “specimen” of the particles that separate into a shower?


In the poem “Stanzas,” find support to show that the poem is about death.

Explain the imagery found in “Fairy-Land.”

Explain how Byron’s stanza from The Island is an appropriate introduction to “Stanzas.” 7.6 Bonus Thoughts

Diana, Hamadryad, and Naiad: Poe alludes to Greek mythology with these terms. Diana is the goddess of the woods and the moon. As a huntress, Diana was skillful with the bow and javelin. As a goddess, Diana could be sever. The hapless Actaeon, who was hunting one day, saw Diana while she was bathing. The goddess changed poor Actaeon into a stag who was chased and eventually killed by his own dogs. You will find Diana mentioned in the Bible (Acts 19:21–41)

Hamadryads are nymphs who live in trees. The nymph’s life is connected with the tree. When the tree dies, or is chopped down, the nymph dies. On the other hand, naiads are water nymphs who live in brooks and springs.


Selected Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe Lesson Eight

8.1 Vocabulary

giddy adj. pendulous adj. avaunt adv. entablature n. 8.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. giddy celerity lightheaded dizzy

2. pendulous wavering tenacious undecided

3. avaunt hence away behold

4. entablature tabulation chart table 8.3 Reading Assignment: The Raven and Other Favorite Poems, pp.12–22 8.4 Recall Questions

1. In “To Helen,” to what is Helen’s beauty likened to?

2. What brought the traveler home?

3. In “Israfel,” why does the poet proclaim that Israfel is the best and wisest bard?

4. What does the poet mean when he states, “the shadow of thy perfect bliss / Is the sunshine of ours.”

5. In “The City in the Sea,” even though light does not come down from above, where is the source of light for the city?

6. In “The Sleeper,” what is the significance of the word “Lethe”?

7. What words in the poem suggest that the lady is not merely sleeping but is dead?

8. In “Lenore,” what are the tones of each of the four stanzas?

9. What is ironic about the title, “The Valley of Unrest”?

10. In “The Coliseum,” from whom do the echoes come?


11. In “To One in Paradise,” why does the poet state, “Ah, dream too bright to last”?

12. In “To F——,” the poet remarks that he found a “Eden of Bland repose.” Where is this Eden?

13. In “Sonnet—To Zante,” what is the theme of the poem?

14. In “The Haunted Palace,” what are the “two luminous windows”?


In “Lenore,” explain the change in tone in the last stanza compared to the tone in the rest of the poem.

In “The Coliseum,” what are the contrasts that Poe uses through the poem? 8.6 Bonus Thoughts

Psyche and Cupid: Even though she was mortal, Psyche rivaled Venus in beauty and indeed in worship. This fact was upsetting to Venus, who sent Cupid to make life miserable for the young lady. Cupid by accident wounds himself with his own arrow and falls in love with Psyche. The story is a classic in Greek mythology that explains how love (Cupid) and soul (Psyche) became united.


Selected Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe Lesson Nine

9.1 Vocabulary

mime n. tarn n. nebulous adj. sibyllic adj. 9.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. mime imitator parodist canine

2. tarn lake iceberg pond

3. nebulous limpid unclear cloudy

4. sibyllic prophetic oracular minute 9.3 Reading Assignment: The Raven and Other Favorite Poems, pp. 23–33 9.4 Recall Questions

1. In “Sonnet—Silence,” what is the “incorporate” thing that is a type of entity that comes from matter and light?

2. Why cannot corporate Silence harm us?

3. In “The Conqueror Worm,” what do you think is the Phantom that is chased?

4. What does the worm symbolize in this poem? Why?

5. In “Dream-Land,” what does the traveler meet along the way.

6. Why is this region peaceful and soothing for the heart whose woes are legion?

7. In “The Raven,” what was the student’s dream that he was dreaming that “no mortal ever dared to dream before”?

8. What is the significance of the raven’s remark when the student asks where there was a balm in Gilead?

9. In “Eulalie—A Song,” what is unable to compare with Eulalie’s eyes?

10. According to the poet, what will never come again?


11. In “To M.L.S——,” what happens when the “soft-murmured words, “Let there be light” are spoken?


In “The Raven,” explain how Poe creates and maintains a melancholy mood in the poem.

In “Ulalume,” explain how Poe uses symbolism in the poem.

9.6 Bonus Thoughts

Thule: Ancient Greek geographers believed that Thule was the most northerly part of the habitable world. Guesses have been rendered that Thule was actually an island north of Great Britain, identified as Iceland or the Shetland Islands.

Astarte: Astarte was a Semitic goddess whose domain was fertility and sexual love. On the other hand, Astarte was also the goddess of war. Apparently the ancient peoples understood the thin line that divides love and hate. The goddess also goes by the name of Ashtoreth and Ishtar. In Poe’s “Eulalie—A Song,” Astarte is a reference to the planet Venus, who was the Roman goddess of love.

The Sibyl: In Vergil’s Aeneid, Aeneas receives help from the sibyl in order to journey to the underworld. On the way back to the upper world, Aeneas tells the sibyl that he will build a temple for her because of her help. The sibyl then tells her story. Even though she, as a young woman, refused the advances and desires of Apollo, the sibyl was granted a wish from the god. She took a handful of sand and wished to live for as many years as the number of grains in her hand. Her wish was granted. However, she forgot to request for continuing beauty and youth. She grew old with the years and her body shriveled up to nothing. Nevertheless, her voice remained. Once, while she was very old, the sibyl was asked what did she wish for now. She stated, “I wish that I might die.”


Selected Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe Lesson Ten

10.1 Vocabulary

tintinnabulation n. palpitate v. monody n. paean n. 10.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Select the word that does not belong in each of the following lines.

1. tintinnabulation jingling alarm ringing

2. palpitate irate beat thump

3. monody ode monophony epic

4. paean hymn dirge exultation 10.3 Reading Assignment The Raven and Other Favorite Poems, pp. 33–45 10.4 Recall Questions

1. In the poem, “To —— ——,” what are the two words that Poe is unable to express?

2. In “To Helen,” where does the poet see Helen?

3. When the poet states, “at length, dear Dian sank from sight,” to what is he referring?

4. What paradox is associated with Helen’s eyes?

5. In the poem, “Eldorado,” what is the meaning of the shadow’s reply?

6. According to the poet in “To My Mother,” what is the greatest “term of love”?

7. In “Annabel Lee,” why does the poet state that the angels were envious of him and Annabel Lee?


In the poem, “To Annie,” the speaker states several times that he is not dead. However, what arguments can you make that suggests that the speaker is indeed speaking from the grave?

In “The Bells,” explain how Poe uses euphony and cacophony to achieve the sounds of the four different bells.


In the poem, “Alone,” Poe writes about the condition of a man without God. Explain how the child of God is never alone.

10.6 Bonus Thoughts

El Dorado, or Eldorado: Originally, El Dorado referred to a fabled city that existed somewhere in northern South America. Tales came back to the Old World of a city of great wealth of gold and jewels. During the 16th and 17th centuries, explorers from many nations sought the mystical city. Sir Walter Raleigh even attempted an expedition to find El Dorado. Today, the word “El Dorado” represents anything that offers a extraordinary opportunity.


Glossary for Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe abstruse (²b-str›s“) adj. Difficult to understand; recondite acumen (…-ky›“m…n) n. Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight audacity (ô-d²s“¹-t¶) n. Fearless daring; intrepidity; bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints avaunt (…-vônt“) adv. Hence; away caprice (k…-pr¶s“) n. An impulsive change of mind; an inclination to change one’s mind

suddenly cataleptic (k²t”l-μp“t¹k) adj. Marked b a condition characterized by lack of response to external

stimuli and by muscular rigidity cerements (sμr“…-m…nts) n. A burial garment. conundrum (k…-n¾n“dr…m) n. A riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun; a

paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma coppice (k¼p“¹s) n. A thicket or grove of small trees or shrubs, especially one maintained by

periodic cutting or pruning definitiveness (d¹-f¹n“¹-t¹v-nis) adj. Precisely defined or explicit; supplying or being a final

settlement or decision; conclusive; authoritative and complete demeanor (d¹-m¶“n…r) n. The way in which a person behaves eminence (μm“…-n…ns) n. A rise of ground; a hill; a position of great distinction or superiority enigma (¹-n¹g“m…) n. Something that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable; a perplexing

speech or text; a riddle entablature (μn-t²b“l…-ch‹r”) n. The upper section of a classical building, resting on the

columns entomological (μn”t…-m¼l“…-j¹-k…l) adj. Relating to the scientific study of insects epoch (μp“…k or ¶“p¼k”) n. A particular period of history, especially one considered remarkable

or noteworthy fervid (fûr“v¹d) adj. Marked by great passion or zeal; extremely hot; burning giddy (g¹d“¶) adj. Having a reeling, lightheaded sensation; dizzy; frivolous and lighthearted;

flighty gossamer (g¼s“…-m…r) adj. Sheer, light, delicate, or tenuous hieroglyphic (hº”…r-…-gl¹f“¹k) adj. Relating to a system of writing in which pictorial symbols are

used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound; difficult to read or decipher

insuperable (¹n-s›“p…r-…-b…l) adj. Impossible to overcome; insurmountable locution (l½-ky›“sh…n) n. Style of speaking; phraseology lucid (l›“s¹d) adj. Easily understood; intelligible; mentally sound; rational mime (mºm) n. A form of ancient Greek and Roman acting in which familiar characters and

situations were ridiculed on stage often with ludicrous actions; a performer in a mime; the art of portraying characters and acting out situations or a narrative by gestures and body movement without the use of words; pantomime

monody (m¼n“…-d¶) n. An ode for one voice or actor, as in Greek drama; a poem in which the poet or speaker mourns another's death

mortification (môr”t…-f¹-k³“sh…n) n. A feeling of shame, humiliation, or wounded pride; discipline of the body and the appetites by self-denial or self-inflicted privation

nebulous (nμb“y…-l…s) adj. Cloudy, misty, or hazy; lacking definite form or limits; vague paean (p¶“…n) n. A song of joyful praise or exultation; a fervent expression of joy or praise


palpitate (p²l“p¹-t³t”) v. To move with a slight tremulous motion; tremble, shake, or quiver; to beat with excessive rapidity; throb

pall (pôl) n. A cover for a coffin, bier, or tomb; a coffin, especially one being carried to a grave or tomb; a covering that darkens or obscures

pendulous (pμn“j…-l…s) adj. Hanging loosely; suspended so as to swing or sway; wavering; undecided

placid (pl²s“¹d) adj. Undisturbed by tumult or disorder; calm or quiet; satisfied; complacent sagacity (s…-g²s“¹-t¶) n. The quality of being discerning, sound in judgment, and farsighted;

wisdom sibyllic (s¹-b¹l“¹k) adj. Prophetic; oracular suavity (swä“v¹-t¶) n. The quality of being smoothly agreeable and courteous tarn (tärn) n. A small mountain lake, especially one formed by glaciers tintinnabulation (t¹n”t¹-n²b”y…-l³“sh…n) n. The ringing or sounding of bells. This word comes

from tintinnabulum (t¹n”t¹-n²b“y…-l…m), a small, tinkling bell trepidation (trμp”¹-d³“sh…n) n. A state of alarm or dread; apprehension; fear videlicet (v¹-dμl“¹-sμt”) adv. Abbr. viz. That is; namely. Used to introduce examples and lists vivacious (v¹-v³“sh…s) adj. Full of animation and spirit; lively

Edgar Allan Poe (Lessons 1–5) Vocabulary Quiz #1

Instructions: Match the word with its definition. A. acumen B. audacity C. caprice D. cataleptic E. cerements F. conundrum G. definitiveness H. demeanor I. enigma J. epoch K. gossamer L. hieroglyphic M. insuperable N. locution O. lucid P. placid Q. sagacity R. suavity S. trepidation T. vivacious

1. _____ A burial garment

2. _____ A particular period of history

3. _____ Sheer, light, delicate, or tenuous

4. _____ Marked by a lacking of response and rigidity

5. _____ Fearless daring

6. _____ A riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun

7. _____ Full of animation and spirit; lively

8. _____ A state of alarm or dread; apprehension; fear

9. _____ Something that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable

10. _____ Quickness and keenness of judgement or insight

11. _____ Precisely defined or explicit; conclusive

12. _____ The quality of being discerning; wisdom

13. _____ Impossible to overcome

14. _____ Style of speaking; phraseology

15. _____ Easily understood; mentally sound; rational

16. _____ Calm or quiet; complacent

17. _____ An impulsive change of mind; whim

18. _____ The quality of being smoothly agreeable and courteous

19. _____ Difficult to read or decipher; pictorial symbols used as words

20. _____ The way one behaves; mien

Edgar Allan Poe (Lessons 6–10) Vocabulary Quiz #2

Instructions: Match the word with its definition. A. abstruse B. avaunt C. coppice D. eminence E. entablature F. entomological G. fervid H. giddy I. mime J. monody K. mortification L. nebulous M. paean N. pall O. palpitate P. pendulous Q. sibyllic R. tarn S. tintinnabulation T. videlicet

1. _____ Difficult to understand; recondite

2. _____ A small mountain lake

3. _____ A feeling of shame or humiliation

4. _____ The ringing or sounding of bells

5. _____ viz.; namely; that is

6. _____ Acting out situations or narrative by gestures without speech

7. _____ The upper section of a classical building, resting on the columns

8. _____ Having a reeling, lightheaded sensation; dizzy; flighty

9. _____ Prophetic; oracular

10. _____ An ode; a poem in which the poet mourns another’s death

11. _____ Relating to the scientific study of insects

12. _____ Cloudy, misty, or hazy; vague; unclear

13. _____ A rise of ground; a hill

14. _____ A cover for a coffin; a coffin that is carried to the grave or tomb

15. _____ To move with a slight tremulous motion; tremble, shake

16. _____ Hanging loosely; wavering; undecided

17. _____ A thicket or grove of small trees or shrubs

18. _____ A song of praise or exultation; a fervent expression of joy or praise

19. _____ Hence; away

20. _____ Marked by great passion or zeal; extremely hot

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Answer Keys to Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 1 1. agitate 2. bravery 3. laughter 4. glue Lesson 1 1. He meets Ligeia in a decaying city near the Rhine. 2. He describes romance “as a wan and misty winged ashtophet.” 3. In order to have beauty, one must have strangeness in the proportion. 4. The worm that feeds off dead bodies is the hero. 5. His wife’s name is Lady Rowena. 6. He imagined that he saw three or four red-colored drops fall into the goblet. 7. Ligeia believed that one dies only because he wills to die. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 2 1. circulation 2. lucid 3. ferocious 4. disastrous Lesson 2 1. They were boyhood companions. 2. He was suffering from nervous agitation and morbid acuteness of the senses. 3. He believed that fear would kill him. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 3 1. mistake 2. consortium 3. zenith Lesson 3 1. Card games require more mental skills because while chess requires mere attention, card

games requires superior acumen. 2. The relationship is one of friendship; they are roommates. 3. Dupin was able to deduce what the narrator was thinking by observing the narrator’s

actions. 4. The body was found in the aperture of the chimney. 5. The man’s name was Adolphe Le Bon, who was the clerk who helped Madame L’Espanaye

to bring 4000 francs to her house. 6. The accused did Dupin a favor once, and Dupin believes that the case offers some form of

“amusement.” 7. The witnesses agreed that the language was not of their own native tongue.

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8. The window was the one by the bed. 9. Even though the task would have been difficult, the escape was through the window,

swinging on a shutter, and climbing down a lightening rod that went along the house to the ground.

10. The evidence was the hair of an animal. 11. Dupin found a ribbon which he believed was used to tie a pigtail and which had a Maltese

knot in it that only sailors knew how to tie. 12. The sailor intended to sell the animal. 13. The sailor used a whip. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 4 1. vicinity 2. irrational 3. climax 4. avoidable Lesson 4 1. He retired with friends to a castle. 2. He had the doors welded shut after his guests arrived. 3. The best word is bizarre. 4. He died of the Red Death. 5. The color is black. 6. He thought that he was in a tomb, buried alive—the most hideous of fates. 7. His fall saved him from falling into a deep pit. 8. They drugged him and tied him up to await death by the razor-sharp pendulum. 9. He put grease of the bands, and dozens of rats eat through the bands. 10. The wall were red hot and were beginning to move towards him in order to force him into

the pit. 11. Invading armies rescue the narrator before he was killed. Vocabulary Exercises, Lesson 5 1. laundry 2. blindness 3. timorousness 4. conjugation Lesson 5 1. The man’s eye terrified him. 2. Madness is an over-acuteness of the senses. 3. He dismembered it, then hid the pieces under the floorboards of the man’s bedroom. 4. He mistakenly thought the police already knew the truth. 5. The narrator states that you should not let retribution overtake you as the revenger. Make

yourself felt as the agent of revenge to the one who has done you wrong. 6. He prided himself as a connoisseur of wine. 7. He pulled a trowel out of his robe. 8. The phrase means “Rest in Peace.”

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Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 6 1. autopsy 2. pond 3. astronomical 4. obtuse Lesson 6 1. He was living on Sullivan’s Island because of a reversal of his family’s fortunes. 2. The most beautiful thing was the gold bug. 3. Legrand kept talking about gold in his sleep. 4. He encrypted his treasure map. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 7 1. furtive 2. precipice 3. vale 4. et cetera Lesson 7 1. The main object is the blush of the bride. 2. The blush causes the grooms heart to burn with passion for his bride. 3. The young man’s heart is a chaos of deep passion and the heart is compared to the “lovely

earth.” 4. Only once did the night wind come over the speaker. 5. Like dew drops that cling to the grass, so thoughts and visions will cling to our spirit. 6. The symbol is “the mist upon the hill.” Perhaps not, because the symbol is a mystery of

mysteries. 7. The Evening Star emits a “distant fire” while the moon is cold. 8. The moon is passionless because it can emit not heat; this explains the “death” of the moon

(“as a shroud”); love is better than even the preeminence of the moon’s light. 9. The speaker suggests that hope is like sand falling through one’s fingers. 10. The tone is one of despair and hopelessness. 11. Either his mind is affected by the moon or by a “quickening spell.” 12. The poet experienced the fullness of pride and power. 13. The poet learned that pride and power destroy souls. 14. The narrator felt the terror of “tremulous delight.” 15. The mine was unable to teach the narrator the feeling that he felt at the lake, that is, the

feeling had nothing to do with riches. 16. Science looks at the world without myths and without emotion; into other words, science

destroys the very stuff that makes up poetry. 17. A parakeet and a condor are the two birds that are contrasted. 18. The poet speaks about her lips, her eyes, and her heart. 19. The glow of beauty is the unhidden heart. 20. Since her image lies deeply in the river, so her image lies deeply in her lover’s heart. 21. Years of love is forgotten.

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22. He is moved whenever someone sorrows for him while he journeys through life. 23. The moon was used as a tent. 24. The poet states that butterflies bring the specimen on their wings. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 8 1. celerity 2. tenacious 3. behold 4. entablature Lesson 8 1. Her beauty is like Nicean ships. 2. Helen’s “hyacinth hair,” “classic face,” and “Naiad airs” brought the traveler home. 3. Israfel despised unimpassioned songs. 4. Our greatest happiness on earth is inferior to even the least joy in heaven. 5. The poet states that there is “light from out the lurid sea.” While only a guess, the word

lurid may suggest that the light comes from an underwater volcano. 6. In Greek mythology, Lethe was the river of forgetfulness; when one sleeps, the cares of the

world are forgotten; sleep is a picture of death when there is total forgetfulness. 7. Some words which suggest death are “Above the closed and fringed lid” (a coffin lid),

“vault,” “crested palls,” “funerals,” and “sepulchre.” 8. In order of their appearances, the tones in each of the stanzas are sadness, anger,

resignation, and joy. 9. Ironically, the valley is the place of an unnamed grave, a place of rest. 10. The echoes come from the stones. 11. The dream did not last because the poet’s lover apparently died. 12. His Eden is while dreaming about his beloved. 13. The theme of this poem is death. 14. The windows are the eyes. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 9 1. canine 2. iceberg 3. limpid 4. minute Lesson 9 1. The incorporate thing is a shadow. 2. In that the silence is called “No More,” the silence no longer exists. Things that do not exist

has no power over us. 3. While answers may vary, the Phantom could be pleasure, hope, happiness, or wealth. 4. The worm is a symbol for death. 5. The traveler meets Memories of the Past. 6. The region is the realm of the dead. The dead are no longer concerned with the cares of the

world. 7. He dreamed that his lover would come back from the dead.

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8. In that he knows that the bird has no intelligent thought when it repeats “nevermore,” the student reveals that he does not think that there is a balm in Gilead that will to heal his sorrow.

9. The stars are less bright than her eyes. 10. Doubt and pain will never come again. 11. There is a resurrection from the dead. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 10 1. alarm 2. irate 3. epic 4. dirge Lesson 10 1. The name of his nurse, “Marie Louise.” 2. He sees Helen in a garden. 3. He is referring to the moon (the goddess Diana was the goddess of the moon). 4. Her eyes were the poet’s ministers while at the same time, he was a slave to her eyes. 5. The knight should have seized the present opportunities instead of trying to find the place of

opportunity. 6. The term is “mother.” 7. They were envious because the couple “loved with a love that was more than love.

Quiz #1

1. E 2. J 3. K 4. D 5. B 6. F 7. T 8. S 9. I 10. A

Quiz #2

1. A 2. R 3. K 4. S 5. T 6. I 7. E 8. H 9. Q 10. J

11. G 12. Q 13. M 14. N 15. O 16. P 17. C 18. R 19. L 20. H

11. F 12. L 13. D 14. N 15. O 16. P 17. C 18. M 19. B 20. G

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