Lesson Plan

If You're a Bird, I'm a Bird: Symbolism

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Would a bluebird be as scary as a vulture? Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" is the central text in a instructional activity about symbolism. After a close reading of the poem, learners consider what the raven might represent to the narrator. They then craft their free verse poem centered on an object important to them.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Add a flag and a pumpkin to the images on the SMARTboard and change the question to "What do these images represent to you?"
  • Prepare examples of free verse poems and review this structure when assigning the poem to class members
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires copies of the poem and the graphic organizer
Pros
  • Teacher's notes provide additional scaffolding and possible modifications
  • Materials are provided in both English and Spanish
  • Links offer detailed explanations of the learning strategies used in the lesson
Cons
  • None
Common Core