文學探索：愛倫坡的詩與散文

One of my favorite writers/poets is Edgar Allan Poe. Much of his writing sets a creepy and dark atmosphere, and his works are a great introduction to gothic literature. During this class, students will read Poe's poetry and prose and learn to identify the literary elements and poetic devices he used in his works. Students will also learn about Poe's life and find out about the time period during which he lived. We will discuss how Poe's experiences influenced his works.

Here is the weekly schedule :
Week 1: The Masque of the Red Death - Symbolism
Week 2: The Raven - Annotating Poetry
Week 3: The Cask of Amontillado - Irony
Week 4: (1)The Haunted Palace - Compare/Contrast this poem with The Eagles' song Hotel California; Imagery & Figurative Language  
              (2)Spooky Snacks (optional) Bring your favorite Halloween treats to enjoy during our last class. If anyone is interested, I can post a link on The Classroom Page to the website I use to order Edgar Allan Poe Tea. 

I will give biographical & artistic background information on Edgar Allan Poe at the beginning of the first class. Then we will discuss how his life experiences influenced his work. I will also ask students to share any knowledge they already have about Poe or his works. 

Each class will begin with a greeting and then I will ask questions to gauge the learners' prior knowledge of the poem/short story to be read and the literary elements to be studied. We will then read the poem/story and follow up with a discussion and literature lessons, as listed above in the weekly schedule. 

This class consists of readings, lectures, discussions, slide presentations, videos, and some group work during class, especially during the last class. I invite interaction in my classes. I want students to be active in the learning process, so I use engaging stories and poems that capture their attention and make studying literary & poetic terms more appealing. 

This class is suitable for those who are new to Poe and literary analysis and also for those who are familiar with each.