EVERYONE is going to be reading all or part of the poem out loud in class, so you should give it at least a few practice readings before we meet. Keep in mind how Poe says the poem should be read, for what effect.

The editors of the text, in the introductory material on Poe, at the least imply that essays such as "The Philosophy of Composition" and quite possibly "The Poetic Principle" are done with tongue in check and are not to be taken too seriously. Nonetheless, the two essays provide some insight into understanding "The Raven" and Poe's other writings. For this journal, discuss "The Raven" in the context of at least one concept found and expounded upon in each of the two essays. What in "The Philosophy of Composition" and "The Poetic Principle" sheds light on "The Raven"? (the answer to this is 'X'). Discuss the poem in light of what these two essays have to say about composing in general and composing poetry in particular. For each point, provide the passage from the essay and a passage from the poem, write about what each means and why each matters. Respond to at least three journals by your peers.