Three Stupid Characters in American Literature

In honor of Columbus Day, I remind you of the following, courtesy of The History Channel. For nearly a decade, Columbus lobbied European monarchies to bankroll his quest to discover a western sea route to Asia. In Portugal, … [Read more...]

“The Pit and the Pendulum” Movie

The summer of YouTube movies based on short stories is sadly coming to an end.I searched for "The Pit and the Pendulum" movie, and came across an assortment of films, most of them totally inappropriate for classroom … [Read more...]

Edgar Allan Poe at His Absolute Horrific Best

I share with you one of the most beautifully horrific passages in American Literature. It comes from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum." It's a description of the rats in the dungeons of Toledo, for whom the … [Read more...]

“Cask of Amontillado” Movie with Lesson Plan

After my students did so well with my "Cask of Amontillado" lesson plans, I thought I'd reward them with a short "Cask of Amontillado" movie. Unfortunately, the movie was terrible. I now sit in fear, hoping they won't follow … [Read more...]

The Tell-Tale Heart Movie with a Lesson Plan

Here's a good little lesson for tricking students into analyzing "The Tell-Tale Heart" theme. A Case for Getting Rid of Cable and Learning "The Tell-Tale Heart" Theme We don't have cable in my house, so I spend my summers … [Read more...]