“The Pit and the Pendulum” Essay & Project
Mr. Dawursk
PART
Read “The Pit and the Pendulum” and in essay format discuss the
following elements:
· Plot: Give a
brief summary of the piece. (2-3 Paragraphs)
· Setting: Describe
the setting. What words or phrases help paint the picture? (At least one paragraph)
· Characters: How does
Poe portray the characters? (At least one paragraph)
· Perspective: Who is the
narrator? Describe this person’s feelings.
Is it written in third or first person? How does this affect the piece?
(At least one paragraph)
·
· FINALLY, think
about events or images from YOUR experiences that invoke the same emotions
discussed in your prior paragraph. For
example, what have you experienced that may have sparked deep fear or
loneliness or extreme passion? (At least one paragraph)
This is to be in “essay” format, so do not just label each
section and answer the question. Instead,
write it so that it flows like a normal essay with multiple paragraphs and
appropriate transitions. Use an introductory and conclusion paragraph as
well. The paper is to be double-spaced typed, 12-point Arial or Times New
Roman font and printed in black ink on white paper. It will be graded on
content, use of examples from the text, grammar, mechanics and spelling.
Remember contractions (can’t, won’t,
isn’t) should not be used in a formal paper.
PART TWO: The Project
Create an original project that portrays the emotions and themes
highlighted in your paper and that are found throughout Poe’s works.
You must use some of Poe’s words or phrases somewhere in your
project.
For example:
·
You may make posters,
·
Write poems or short stories,
·
Create a piece of artwork,
·
Do an original thematic dance,
·
Write a song/rap
·
Make a power point presentation
Project Evaluation
A grade: Students were highly engaged in class discussions; created a clear
and detailed essay and project that included plot, setting, characters, and perspective;
developed a creative, thoughtful personal project reflecting emotions from
Poe’s writing combined with their own experience.
B/C grade:
Students participated in class discussions; created an adequate
essay and project that included some of the following elements: plot, setting,
characters, and perspective; developed a personal project reflecting emotions
from Poe’s writing combined with their own experience.
D grade: Students participated minimally in class discussions; wrote an
incomplete essay and project that included few or none of the following
elements: plot, setting, characters, and perspective; the personal project was
unclear or did not reflect emotions from Poe’s writing or had no reference to
their own experience.
DUE DATES:
The Project will be presented to
the class on February 2 & 3, 2006
Vocabulary
Narrator: A person
telling a story
Context: The voice of the narrator can
determine how a reader interprets a story.
First-person
Narrative: A form of writing in which the story is told from the
perspective of a character in the story
Context: In a first-person narrative, a
story’s character refers to himself or herself as “I.”
Third-person
Narrative: A form of writing in which the story is told from an
omniscient point of view; all characters are referred to as “he” or “she.”
Context: In a story written in the
third-person narrative, a reader may see into the thoughts of different
characters.
Plot: The
sequence of events that make up a literary work; the structure of the story
Context: The plot of “The Tell-Tale Heart”
ends with the narrator confessing his crime.
Setting: The
background (as time and place) of the action of a story or play
Context: Many of Poe’s short stories and poems
have a dark and foreboding setting.
Gothic: A style of
literature style emphasizing the grotesque, mysterious, and desolate.
Context: Edgar Allan Poe is considered an
author of Gothic literature.