Get to Know Poe
November 19, 2007
Learning about a writer can give you insight into their art. Hemingway’s writing, for example, was influenced by hobbies including African safaris, deep sea fishing expeditions, or getting into drunken brawls. But if you want to get some dirt on a literary icon that’s a little more classroom-friendly, take a look at Knowing Poe.
From the folks at Maryland Public Television, Knowing Poe provides a detailed look at the life, times, and literature of America’s most depressing writer (I mean that as a compliment, by the way). Features like “Poe’s Baltimore” compare the metropolis of today against the city a century-and-a-half before they named an NFL team after one of Poe’s works. Teachers can access specialized Poe lesson plans, such as examining “The Cask of Amontillado” from both sides of the brick wall in the catacombs. There’s also a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style mystery to uncover why Poe died. It’s a fun activity, and even more fun to consider how Poe would’ve written one of those. -BILL FERRIS
