Student Activities for The Raven Include:

"The Raven" Plot Diagram
"The Raven" TP-CASTT
Depicting Literary Elements in The Raven
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs in “The Raven"
Poe-cabulary Boards!
Make it Modern! A Modern Day Poe-tation!

Looking for inspirational engagement for your students during your unit on Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven"? Check out these lesson plans for creative ways to use storyboards that excite your students!

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The Raven Lesson Plans, Student Activities and Graphic Organizers

"The Raven" Plot Diagram

The Raven Plot Diagram Narrative Arc

Example

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A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a narrative. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.

( Plot Diagram Lesson Plan • Buy Poster • Buy PDF )

Poe’s “The Raven" is one of the most recognizable poems ever written. Its narrative style, many stanzas, and repetition makes this ballad readily memorable. With the morbid obsession, eerie tone, and captivating imagery, it is hard to forget.

Creating a Plot Diagram of the events in the poem can significantly help students to grasp key concepts and events. Student then can use the familiar plot diagram to track the actions, thoughts, and interactions of the main character and the raven.

Example "Raven" Plot Diagram

Introduction (Setting/Time)

“The Raven" is set in at midnight on a bleak December night, as a man dozes in his chair.

Conflict

The man is distraught over the loss of his loved one, Leanore.

Rising Action (Protagonist/Antagonist/Point of View)

Suddenly, he hears a knocking, tapping, rapping at his chamber door. He discovers it is a raven.

Climax

After a lengthy conversation with the bird, the speaker asks if he will ever see Leanore again. The Raven replies: 'Nevermore.'

Falling Action (What is Learned)

Angry with the birds answer, the speaker kicks him out!

Conclusion (Theme)

The sorrow and sadness that comes with the loss of a loved one can never be undone.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Print Activity

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Plot Diagrams and Narrative Arcs

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/1] Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments
[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/3] Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution

Student Instructions

Create a visual plot diagram of "The Raven".

Separate the story into the Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components.
Write a description of each of the steps in the plot diagram.

Story Outline Storyboard Template

Example

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"The Raven" TP-CASTT

The Raven TPCASTT

Example

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Poetry is one of the most expressive forms of literature. It can evoke emotions, set a mood, tell a story, or create a deeply and universally understood feeling in its readers. This makes expounding its elements, and understanding its rich meaning, comparisons, and symbols, even more important.

The TP-CASTT method of poetry analysis is a great way to teach students to dissect a poem and understand its parts. It helps students to uncover the deeper meanings within poems while giving them the confidence to be self-educators. TP-CASTT Poetry Analysis is an order of operations similar to PEMDAS for math. It asks students to list items in sequential order and answer questions based on their reading of the poem.

TP-CASTT Diagram (Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude/Tone, Shift, Title, and Theme)

( TPCASTT Lesson Plan • Buy Poster • Buy PDF )

TPCASTT Example for "The Raven"

T	TITLE	The title will be about a black bird and the bad luck it will bring.
P	PARAPHRASE	A man loses someone he loved, named Lenore. He is devastated. One night, in December, while sitting in his room, he hears a knock. A raven visits him. It makes him angry when it tells him that he'll never see Lenore again.
C	CONNOTATION	The man is severely depressed, and is caught in his grief.
A	ATTITUDE/TONE	Poe uses words like 'chamber', 'ponder', 'weary', 'bleak', 'ghosts', and 'embers' to make the dead come alive. These words are depressing and melancholy.
S	SHIFTS	A shift occurs when the speaker asks the raven if he will ever see Lenore again. This shows his anger with the bird, whom he kicks out.
T	TITLE	After reading the poem, my title was partially correct. The poem was about a raven, but he represented sorrow and death.
T	THEME	One interpretation of the theme: even though death is painful and sad, one must not dwell on it, or it will consume one.

This is a great activity to have students do in a small group! Once they are finished ask them to create a storyboard with the TPCASTT steps:

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Lesson Plan Reference

Print Activity

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 4 (Difficult / Complex)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: TPCASTT Poetry Analysis

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone
[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/5] Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot
[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/7] Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they “see” and “hear” when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch

Student Instructions

Perform a TPCASTT analysis of "The Raven". Remember that TPCASTT stands for Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude/Tone, Shift, Title, Theme.

Click "Use this Template" from the assignment.
Choose any combination of scenes, characters, items, and text to represent each letter of TPCASTT.
Write a few sentences describing the importance or meaning of the images.
Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.
Save and submit storyboard to assignment.

TPCASTT Template

Example

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Depicting Literary Elements in The Raven

The Raven Literary Elements

Example

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When teaching Poetry, it is often helpful to refresh or introduce students with technical words. Terms like 'metaphor', 'simile', 'stanza', 'alliteration', 'personification', 'rhyme scheme', and 'onomatopoeia' are a few important terms.

After you have read the poem ask your students to do a scavenger hunt using the storyboard creator. Give them the list again and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the poem! They will have an absolute blast and earn mastery of the words when they are completed. Check out this example below:

Six Literary Elements that Poe uses in The Raven

	DESCRIPTION	EXAMPLE
Alliteration	Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in a sentence or line	"While I pondered weak and weary"
Simile	A comparison using 'like' or 'as'	"Suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping"
Metaphor	An implied comparison between two things	"And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor"
Personification	Giving human-like characteristics to non-human objects or abstract ideas	"[T]he Raven, sitting lonely [...] spoke only, That one word, as if his soul [...] he did outpour."
Onomatopoeia	The spelling of a word mimics the sound it represents	"...and so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door"
Assonance	The repetition of a vowel sound	"rustling of each purple curtain, Thrilled me—filled me"

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Lesson Plan Reference

Print Activity

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Figurative Language

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone
[ELA-Literacy/RL/7/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama
[ELA-Literacy/L/6/6] Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows five or more examples of literary elements in The Raven.

Click "Use this Template" from the assignment.
Identify use of literary elements in the text.
Put the type of literary element in the title box.
Give an example from the text in the description box.
Illustrate the example using using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.

Literary Element Spider Map Template

Example

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Themes, Symbols, or Motifs in “The Raven"

The Raven Symbolism

Example

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( Themes, Symbols, & Motifs Lesson Plan • Buy Poster • Buy PDF )

Valuable aspects of any literary work are its themes, symbols, and motifs. Part of the Common Core ELA standards is to introduce and explain these complex concepts. However, abstract ideas are often difficult for students to anatomize without assistance. Using a storyboard, students can visually demonstrate their understanding of these concepts, and master analysis of literary elements. For best practices, see our article with specific lesson plan steps on setting up your classroom and activities to teach themes, symbols, and motifs.

In the classroom, students can track the rich symbolism that Poe uses throughout the poem.

Symbols in "The Raven" to Look for and Discuss

The Raven

Typically ravens represent bad luck, and even death. In Greek mythology, ravens are seen as messengers. Perhaps this is why the speaker believes that it has come with a message from Lenore.

The Bust of Pallas

This refers to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and enlightenment. The statue shows that the narrator is a scholar. Hence his pondering of old texts.

Lenore

The name is possibly related to "Eleanor" or "Helen", deriving from the Greek for "light". This would imply she was the light of the narrator's life, and without her, there is darkness.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Print Activity

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments
[ELA-Literacy/W/6/6] Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
[ELA-Literacy/W/6/9] Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in "The Raven". Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.

Click "Use this Template" from the assignment.
Identify the theme(s) from "The Raven" you wish to include and replace the "Theme 1" text.
Create an image for examples that represent this theme.
Write a description of each of the examples.
Save and submit your storyboard. Make sure to use the drop-down menu to save it under the assignment title.

Template: Theme

Example

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Poe-cabulary Boards!

The Raven Vocabulary

Example

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In any classroom, vocabulary is a critical component for expanding student knowledge. A perfect way for students to practice vocabulary skills is to create storyboards that show the use of a word in a real-life context, or visually depicted the word's meaning. When students define a word and use it in context, they better retain it as part of their own vocabulary.

Vocabulary Words from “The Raven"

ponder
bleak
wrought
rapping
entreating
token
yore
mien
Pallas
ungainly
aptly
dirges
beguiling
divining
censer
plume
pallid
quit

Teachers Note: There are two ways that you can use Poe’s vocabulary to teach your class. You can have students come up with an original sentence that uses the word, or they can find the word in the text, and depict what the word means.

Visually Depicted Word Meanings from “The Raven":

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary….
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December...
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor…

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Lesson Plan Reference

Print Activity

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 1 (Introducing / Reinforcing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Visual Vocabulary Boards

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/6/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone
[ELA-Literacy/L/6/5] Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings
[ELA-Literacy/L/6/6] Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression

Student Instructions

Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in “The Raven" by creating visualizations.

Choose three vocabulary words from the story and type them in the title boxes.
Find the definition in a print or online dictionary.
Write a sentence that uses the vocabulary word.
Illustrate the meaning of the word in the cell using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.

Alternatively, use Photos for Class to show the meaning of the words with the search bar.

Save and submit your storyboard.

Vocabulary Template Blank

Example

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Make it Modern! A Modern Day Poe-tation!

The Raven - A Modern Adaptation (Beginning)

Example

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Take Poe’s “The Raven” and have students adapt it for the modern day.

An excellent way to get students thinking about the poem is to have them make a Modern Day Adaptation. To make an effective adaptation, students must understand the poem, and what makes it unique. Keeping the elements of the poem in mind, student's adaptation should parallel the plot, but may use a more modern setting, word choice, and speaker.

This Modern Day Adaptation of “The Raven" maintains a similar meter, and keeps the same subject matter. A proper adaptation preserves the underlying structure of the work. Students should be able to reread their first draft, and recognize the sound and feel of the original work.

The Beginning of a Modern "Raven"

Once upon a night so stormy, while I wandered with my homies,

With a pile of hero comics, from ages now long yore,

I felt a tiredness quite sapping, and went home, to start my napping.

When out of nowhere, came a scratching, scratching at my bedroom door.

I told myself, "it's just a rat", scratching at my bedroom door;

Just a rodent, nothing more.

Quickly then I did remember, Uncle Pete in last December,

Who had ignored the noisome scratching, that came at his basement door.

I took up my mag-light, fading, its batteries, they need replacing,

And forced myself up to the door...

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The Raven Summary

"The Raven" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's most famous works. The poem takes place just after midnight on a December evening. A depressed man is sitting in his library, drifting in and out of sleep as he reminisces about Lenore, his dead lover.

Suddenly, he hears a knock, but sees nothing on opening his door. Startled, he convinces himself it was only the wind against the window. He goes to the window to let in fresh air, and a raven swoops in, who perches above the door.

The narrator talks to the bird, and inquires if it has a name. The raven says, "Nevermore". Surprised by this response, the narrator continues to question the bird. The bird's only reply to questions is, "Nevermore".

The narrator fears the bird was sent to torture him. He asks a final question: will he ever hold his love, Lenore, again? The raven, of course, answers, "Nevermore". It becomes clear throughout the poems that the man is delirious and distraught over the loss of his love.

Buy The Best of Poe on Amazon

Essential Questions for "The Raven"

How do great writers create a mood that readers can feel?
What are the parts of a poem, and how can identifying them aid analysis?
How do literary elements affect readers understanding of a literary work?

Other Lesson Plan Ideas

Create an alternate ending to the poem with a storyboard that shows and tells the story from a different perspective.
Complete a storyboard biography of Edgar Allan Poe. (This is a great pre-reading activity!)
Ask students to create a graphic novel using multiple storyboards that depict the various works of Poe.
Add a presentation to any storyboard project.

From Our Artists

From Stephanie (Head of Creativity)

Poe is the leader in classic horror from the era of dark romanticism. His text paints pictures of the macabre, and employs rhythmic pacing that syncs with your uneasy heartbeat.

Personal Favorite: Poe is known for creating an ominous atmosphere in his work. It was fun to use Storyboard That's customization tools like the color selector and filters to replicate that mood.
Pro-tip: Customize your storyboards by using items from search on the shelves, in the fireplace, or on the mantle. Go the extra step with pictures and frames on the walls! These details will make the storyboard pop!

Did you know? Items specific for The Raven are available in image search using the term "Poe". You can also find Poe himself, in the character tab labeled 1600s to 1800s.

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Image Attributions

Detective Comics #431 • Marxchivist • License Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Flash Comics #78 • Marxchivist • License Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
The War of the Worlds • Marxchivist • License Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Lesson Plans by Rebecca Ray

Student Activities for The Raven Include:

The Raven Lesson Plans, Student Activities and Graphic Organizers

"The Raven" Plot Diagram

Example "Raven" Plot Diagram

Introduction (Setting/Time)

Conflict

Rising Action (Protagonist/Antagonist/Point of View)

Climax

Falling Action (What is Learned)

Conclusion (Theme)

Lesson Plan Reference

Student Instructions

"The Raven" TP-CASTT

TPCASTT Example for "The Raven"

TITLE

PARAPHRASE

CONNOTATION

ATTITUDE/TONE

SHIFTS

TITLE

THEME

Lesson Plan Reference

Student Instructions

Depicting Literary Elements in The Raven

Six Literary Elements that Poe uses in The Raven

Lesson Plan Reference

Student Instructions

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs in “The Raven"

Symbols in "The Raven" to Look for and Discuss

The Raven

The Bust of Pallas

Lenore

Lesson Plan Reference

Student Instructions

Poe-cabulary Boards!

Vocabulary Words from “The Raven"

Lesson Plan Reference

Student Instructions

Make it Modern! A Modern Day Poe-tation!

The Beginning of a Modern "Raven"

The Raven Summary

Essential Questions for "The Raven"

Other Lesson Plan Ideas

From Our Artists

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