Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Do you think we are meant to share the speaker's feelings? Are poems about sad people meant to make you sad too? Could you feel excited or thrilled instead?
- Any chance this guy is crazy? Maybe just really sad? Could he be sad enough to seem crazy? How would you draw the line? If you were to get this guy some professional help, where would you go?
- Doesn't "ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir" sound like it should be right next door to Hogwarts?
- In some published versions of the poem, Poe cut out the last stanza (lines 95-104) completely, and it's still printed that way sometimes. Does that seem like a good choice? How would it help or hurt the overall effect of the poem?
- Do you think writing or reading poetry can help you feel better? Could poetry about depressing subjects provide a kind of therapy?