A parody is an imitation (usually intended to be humorous) of a literary or artistic work. Write one or two stanzas of a parody of "The Raven." You might use another bird or animal in place of the raven, change the reason for the speaker's sorrow, or invent a new message for the intruder to utter. Whatever you change, try to follow Poe's meter and rhyme schemes so that your parody will be recognizable.

At what point did you first suspect Mr. Shiftlet of manipulating Mrs. Crater? Why do you think he is successful?

What do you think grass symbolizes, or represents, in this poem?

Write your own version of the Faust legend, as Irving did. Create a modern character in a present-day setting who makes a bargain he or she shouldn't.

If Whitman were to write this poem today, do you think he would list the same sorrows or different ones? Explain your opinion.

Summarize the story told in the narrative poem "The Raven."

In "Ending Poem," identity and heritage are described in terms of a tree and a dinner table. Create your own self-representation-perhaps a draving or a collage of objects to show what contributes to your identity.

"Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" is an allegory, a work of literature in which people, objects, and events stand for abstract qualities, such as evil, compassion, or greed. Do you think that "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" can also be thought of as an allegory? Write your response in a comparison-and-contrast essay.

Compare your attitudes toward youth and aging with those expressed by the characters in this story.

$$\text { THANK }\left\{\begin{array}{l} \text { - Dr. Heidegger's comments about the withered } \\ \text { rose (page 512) } \\ \text { ABOUT } \\ \text { - the guests' behavior when restored to youth } \\ \text { - the guests' desire to find the Fountain of Youth } \end{array}\right.$$

Extend O'Connor's story "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" by writing a brief episode revealing what happens to Lucynell after Mr. Shiftlet leaver her at The Hot Spot or what Mr. Shiftlet encounters when he reaches Mobile.

Write the vocabulary word that best completes the sentence. Choose from the following: encroach, obliterate, coquettish, edict, dank, pallid, temerity, diffident, divulge, circumvent, thwart, virulent, tedious, profoundly, obscure. The mayor had issued a foolish _____ that Miss Emily would not have to pay taxes.

Choose a poem that has become a classic, and perform a comic recitation of it for your classmates.

Write a summary of Dr. Heidegger's experiment for a popular scientific or medical journal.

In a comparison-contrast essay, discuss Roderick Usher and his ancestral home. In what ways are the two similar? Alternatively, compare Roderick and Madeline Usher. Why do you think Poe made the brother and sister twins?