Edgar Allan Poe: The Poe Investigation

The Poe Investigation is a mini-unit focused on Edgar Allan Poe's life, major events, and the unresolved questions surrounding his death.

Students examine primary and secondary information, separate documented facts from later myths, build a timeline of important events, analyze evidence, and consider competing explanations for Poe's final days. The unit ends with a mock coroner's courtroom in which students use evidence to develop and defend a conclusion.

The activities provide an opportunity to connect biographical research, historical inquiry, evidence-based reasoning, and literary analysis while giving students additional context for reading Poe's work.

What's Included

• Complete lesson plans

• Poe fact vs. fiction investigation

• Defining moments timeline activity

• Poe's death case file investigation

• Evidence-analysis worksheets

• Research activities

• Discussion prompts

• Mock coroner's courtroom

• Class vote and conclusion activity

• Student handouts

• Teacher guidance and suggested answers

Approximately 15 teacher pages and 15 student pages are included.

Topics Covered

• Poe's life and career

• Poe in Richmond and Baltimore

• Fact vs. fiction surrounding Poe's biography

• Major events and turning points in Poe's life

• The circumstances surrounding Poe's death

• Historical evidence and conflicting accounts

• Evaluating evidence and competing explanations

• Research and source analysis

• Connections between Poe's life and his writing

Works Well With

• Edgar Allan Poe author studies

• Gothic literature units

• Poe short story units

• Literary biography

• Historical research units

• Evidence-based discussion and debate activities

Designed For

• Grades 6–10

• Middle school ELA

• High school literature

• Homeschool

• Author studies

• Enrichment activities

Format

Printable PDF | Approximately 30 Total Pages

15 Teacher Pages + 15 Student Pages