Edgar Allan Poe at His Absolute Horrific Best

August 6, 2015 By

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 narrator finds a use. Oh, before we get to the passage, here’s a lesson plan that […]

Filed Under: Edgar Allan Poe, Literary Analysis, Pit and the Pendulum, Short Stories

How to Win “The Lottery” in the Classroom with “The Lottery Movie”

August 3, 2015 By

Here’s a nice “The Lottery” lesson plan. Before you show either of these two movies, print out this Template Literary Interpretation T-Chart and hand it out. Throw one of these objectives on the board; otherwise, you might “win” the principal’s observation lottery, which seems to happen when you’re sick or showing videos without objectives on […]

Filed Under: Movies, Short Stories, The Lottery

Great Essay Topic: Which Literary Character Would Win a Hunger Games Fight to the Death?

July 29, 2015 By

I just read “The Lottery” for the first time in over 30 years. As with most things from my youth, it was a lot better in my youth. And like most things as an adult, it gave me a great essay topic. But before we get to the great essay topic, here’s my review of […]

Filed Under: Literary Analysis, Movies, Writing