Reading and Responding to Edgar Allan Poe's Poem, "The Bells"

Grade Levels

10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade

Course, Subject

English Language Arts

Related Academic Standards

CC.1.2.7.C CC.1.2.7.C

Analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text.

CC.1.2.7.D CC.1.2.7.D

Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others.

CC.1.2.8.A CC.1.2.8.A

Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

CC.1.2.8.D CC.1.2.8.D

Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

CC.1.2.8.E CC.1.2.8.E

Analyze the structure of the text through evaluation of the author’s use of specific sentences and paragraphs to develop and refine a concept.

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Description

In Edgar Allan Poe's poem 'The Bells', the sound of the bells from stanza to stanza goes from cheery to gloomy. It is a highly musical poem in which Poe uses very carefully selected words, and masterful rhythms and repetitions to create just the right sound and mood in each stanza. The poem also contains heavy use of symbolism to depict the underlying meaning of the piece.

'The Bells' is really a poem about the cycle of life, from carefree youth to ultimate death. The first stanza of the poem describes the happy bells of joyful young people on a sleigh ride in the snow. A bit less giddy, the second stanza speaks of the hopeful bells of a wedding celebration. The mood of the poem takes a more drastic turn as the third stanza describes alarm bells warning of a fire and impending disaster. Finally, the last stanza of the poem includes church bells solemnly and mournfully announcing death and a funeral.

Review
1. Edgar Allan Poe created the word 'tintinnabulation' to describe what?
2. The word 'clamorous' describes what kind of sound?
3. What do the words melancholy, monody, and knell have in common?

Think About It
1. Find an example of each of the following literary techniques in the poem, 'The Bells': alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, and internal rhyme.
2. Summarize in your own words what you think Edgar Allan Poe is really describing in his poem 'The Bells'.

Reading and Responding to Edgar Allan Poe's Poem, "The Bells"