Activity Overview
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.
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.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
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.
Lesson Plan Reference
- [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
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 25 Points | Emerging 21 Points | Beginning 17 Points | Try Again 13 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive and Visual Elements | Cells have many descriptive elements, and provide the reader with a vivid representation. | Cells have many descriptive elements, but flow of cells may have been hard to understand. | Cells have few descriptive elements, or have visuals that make the work confusing. | Cells have few or no descriptive elements. |
| Grammar/Spelling | Textables have three or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have four or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have five or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have six or more spelling/grammar errors. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has done both peer and teacher editing. | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has either teacher or peer editing, but not both. | Student has done neither peer, nor teacher editing. | Work shows no evidence of any effort. |
| Plot | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram. | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram, but one or more is confusing. | Parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot difficult to follow. | Almost all of the parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot very difficult to follow. |
How To Come Up With an Alternate Ending For “The Raven”
Encourage Brainstorming
Start the session by asking students to brainstorm individually or in groups and come up with alternate endings. Get the students to consider other possible directions for the poem. Ask thought-provoking questions like what elements of the story would they like to change? What possible changes do the students want to incite through the ending?
Examine Original Ending
Help the students examine what the original ending entails. Ask the students what they think was the meaning behind the real ending and what they felt the author was trying to tell them. Conduct a discussion on how this ending impacts the readers as well as the characters and how changing the ending changes the entire story.
Analyze the Themes
Identify and discuss the central ideas present in the poem. The resolution of the poem should be connected to the theme and give readers a sense of connection with the overall poem. For instance, the central ideas present in the poem are “grief, death, loss, love, and madness”. Students can use these themes to come up with an alternate ending so it does not look out of context.
Discuss the Author’s Intent
Discuss what Edgar Allen Poe originally wanted to tell through this poem and its ending. Students can know more about the author’s intention by researching his background and finding out more about his goals and motivation. Students can either write the alternate ending from the perspective of the author or use their own perspective to write the resolution.
Reflect and Review
Ask the students to reflect on their alternate endings. Encourage them to express why they came up with such an ending or their motivation behind the idea. Once they have presented their different endings to the class, they can give an explanation of their imaginative choices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plot Diagram for "The Raven"
What happens in "The Raven" at the climax?
The story of "The Raven" reaches its peak when the narrator, in a state of extreme hopelessness and desperation, asks the raven whether there is any solace from his grief. The raven's reply, "Nevermore," exacerbates the narrator's suffering and hopelessness. The narrator already knows that The Raven will answer “nevermore” for every question he asks so he asked the question he desperately wanted the answer to be true for.
How can students analyze the poem structure better with the help of a plot diagram?
The poem's structure, with its recurring theme of "Nevermore," adds to the sense of unease and pessimism that develops. Students can analyze this structure by dividing the poem into stages and highlighting the development in each stage.
More Storyboard That Activities
Raven, The
![The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe Vocabulary](http://cdn.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-cells/338345/cell-row-0-col-0-w400.png "Poe-cabulary Board: "The Raven"")
This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides
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