Poe Test Review

Biography

Know about Poe’s early life, including his mother’s death, his foster family, and schooling. Born January 9, 1809 At age 2, his mother died of tuberculosis John and Frances Allan took him in He attended the University of Virginia

and excelled in art and writing

Biography

Know about Poe’s relationship with his foster parents, and what happened to them. John Allan and Edgar had a tumultuous

relationship. John gave Edgar no money for school

and left Edgar nothing when he died Frances loved Edgar but she also died of

tuberculosis

Biography

Know about Poe’s marriage, including her age, their relationship, and what happened to her Poe married Virginia Clemm She was 12 She was his cousin She died of tuberculosis

Biography

Know how the events of his life influenced his writing. Provide specific examples. Think about : What tormented him about

death?

“The Cask of Amontillado”

Know Montresor’s attitude toward revenge. “I must not only punish but punish with

impunity”

“The Cask of Amontillado”

Know the mood of the story and be able to identify words that contribute to that mood. Eerie, suspenseful Sounds: jingling of the bells on

Fortunato’s hat, his hacking cough and grotesque laughter

Objects: the flambeaux, the niter, the wine casks, Montresor’s trowel, human remains

“The Cask of Amontillado”

Know how the conversation about the Masons is foreshadowing. Montresor has been hiding a trowel in

his cloak. The trowel foreshadows what happens later when he builds the wall to bury Fortunato alive

“The Cask of Amontillado”

Know how Montresor and Fortunato’s clothing is appropriate to the characters. Review direct and indirect characterization. Fortunato is wearing “motley”, like a

court jester. This matches his foolish behavior.

Montresor’s black mask and coat symbolize death. He is clearly the bad guy. The mask also symbolizes his pretending to be Fortunato’s friend.

“The Cask of Amontillado”

Know why Montresor’s heart grew sick. Some may say Guilt – his “heart” grew

sick, not his stomach Others may think it is only the

Environment – fifty years later he is unforgiving and still mitered in hate for Fortunato

Poetry Terms

Be able to define and find examples of the following poetry terms Alliteration

▪ the repitition of initial consonant sounds of words, as in the phrase “dark days”

Assonance▪ the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, as in the phrase “child of silence”

Internal Rhyme▪ the rhyming of words within a line

Rhyme Scheme ▪ a pattern of end rhymes▪ (know how to mark rhyme scheme on a poem)

“The Raven”

Be able to find internal rhyme, alliteration, and assonance in “The Raven.”

“The Raven”

Be able to summarize the poem.

“Annabel Lee”

Be able to find alliteration, assonance, and internal rhyme in “Annabel Lee.”

“Annabel Lee”

Be able to mark rhyme scheme for “Annabel Lee.”

“Annabel Lee”

Be able to compare the conflict in “Annabel Lee” and Edgar Allan Poe’s life. The conflict between the narrator and

the angels is within the narrator’s mind. The narrator believes the angels were jealous of their strong love for each other. An example from the poem is: “And the angels from heaven envied I and my Annabel Lee”

“The Pit and the Pendulum” Know how the details at the beginning of the

story hint that the narrator may be dreaming or even going mad. He hears voices. ▪ “After that the sound of inquisitional voices seemed merged

into one dreamy indeterminate hum.” He sees visions:▪ “I saw the black-robed judges. They appeared to me white—

and thin even to grotesqueness”▪ “Seven tall candles stood upon the table. At first they wore

the aspect of charity, and seemed white and slender angels who would save me.”

▪ All of these visions vanished, “as if magically from before me”

“The Pit and the Pendulum”

Be able to discuss all three tortures and how he avoids death in each one.

1.The Pit – he stumbles and falls just before he walks into the pit

2.The Pendulum – the rats eat through the rope

3.Fire – he is rescued by the French Army

“The Pit and the Pendulum”

Did General Lasalle’s arrival seem an exceptionally lucky coincidence to you? Did it lessen the story’s credibility or your enjoyment of it? If there had been no rescue, could we have had a story at all? Why or why not?

“The Pit and the Pendulum”

How does the setting influence the mood of the story? Setting – prison cell Pit in the center of the cell Torture devices Rats