The Raven

"The Raven" is a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe. It tells about a man who lost his love, Lenore. One night, he hears some sounds and realizes that there is a talking Raven in his bedroom. He tries to talk with the raven, but all he says is "Nevermore".
"The Raven" got very popular because of his methodically and logic. The poem is considered one of the best works of Poe. Written in Baltimore, the poem lends its name to the local football team, the "Baltimore Ravens". That is to say, the local football team was named after Poe's famous poem.

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was a famous mystery/macabre writer. Born in Boston, in 1809, Poe was one of the earliest American to write short stories.
Orphan (his father left the family in 1810 and his mother died in 1811), he was adopted by John and Frances Allan. He studied at the University of Virginia, but left because he had no money to pay his studies. When he went to Baltimore, he wrote "The Raven", a poem that made him famous
When he went to Baltimore, he wrote the poem "The Raven", which made him famous.
Poe died in 1849. We never knew the cause of his death. 
The cause of his death remains a mystery.
Some hypotheses are alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide and tuberculosis.

Homework

- Write a "short story" version of "The Raven"
- Audiobook "The Raven"

(Post the previous homework)

Homework

-Timeline and history of Halloween
- Short research on "The Raven" and Edgar Allan Poe (short presentation)

- Librivox

The Raven

Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—

Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door—

Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door;

This it is and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you"—here I opened wide the door—

Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"—

Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping something louder than before.

"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;

Let me see, then, what thereat is and this mystery explore—

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—

'Tis the wind and nothing more.

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore.

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he,

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then the ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on that placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if its soul in that one word he did outpour

Nothing farther then he uttered; not a feather then he fluttered—

Till I scarcely more than muttered: "Other friends have flown before—

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."

Then the bird said "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

Of 'Never—nevermore.'"

But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,

But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee

Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate, yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—

On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—

Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting—

"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul has spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadows on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted—nevermore!

History of Halloween

Bet You Didn’t Know: Halloween | Video

List some family-friendly activities linked to Halloween.

When did the tradition of Halloween started? And how did it change through time?

What is the meaning of “souling” and “guising”?

What do you think of the incorporation of Halloween in the Brazilian culture?

History of Halloween

Like many other holidays, Halloween has evolved and changed throughout history. Over 2,000 years ago people called the Celts lived in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France. November 1 was their New Year's Day. They believed that the night before the New Year (October 31) was a time when the living and the dead came together.

More than a thousand years ago the Christian church named November 1 All Saints Day (also called All Hallows.) This was a special holy day to honor the saints and other people who died for their religion. The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve. Later the name was changed to Halloween.

Like the Celts, the Europeans of that time also believed that the spirits of the dead would visit the earth on Halloween. They worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them. So on that night people wore costumes that looked like ghosts or other evil creatures. They thought if they dressed like that, the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them.

The tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans. Some of the traditions changed a little, though. For example, on Halloween in Europe some people would carry lanterns made from turnips. In America, pumpkins were more common. So people began putting candles inside them and using them as lanterns. That is why you see Jack 'o lanterns today.

These days Halloween is not usually considered a religious holiday. It is primarily a fun day for children. Children dress up in costumes like people did a thousand years ago. But instead of worrying about evil spirits, they go from house to house. They knock on doors and say "trick or treat." The owner of each house gives candy or something special to each trick or treater.

Allegory (The Snowman)

The snowman

In a place where people love to burn things, there was a girl. This girl was against burning things. In On Christmas, she build a snowman, but people wanted to burn it. With the help of a friend, a man who people wanted to burn too, she protected the snowman. As time went by With the time, more and more people went to protect the snowman, including a little boy and an old man. Even if they were doing the right thing, people started to whipping them for that. But they didn't stop to protect it. Because, even if most of the people do something, it doesn't means that it is right.

Excellent!!!

Parable, allegory and fable

Parable: a parable is a didactic story witch contains one or more lessons. Parable's characters can be only humans.
(A parable is not obligatorily a biblical parable)

 Allegory: an allegory is an extended metaphor. It's a symbolical story used to represent something in a non-literally way.

Fable: a fable is a didactic story, witch contains one or more lessons. A fable is similar with a parable, but it contains animals, plants, or nature forces

What is Literature for?

IT SAVES YOU TIME
It looks like it’s wasting time, but literature is actually the ultimate time-saver — because it gives us access to a range of emotions and events that it would take you years, decades, millennia to try to experience directly. Literature is the greatest reality simulator — a machine that puts you through infinitely more situations than you can ever directly witness.

IT MAKES YOU NICER
Literature performs the basic magic of what things look like though someone else’s point of view; it allows us to consider the consequences of our actions on others in a way we otherwise wouldn’t; and it shows us examples of kindly, generous, sympathetic people.

Literature deeply stands opposed to the dominant value system — the one that rewards money and power. Writers are on the other side — they make us sympathetic to ideas and feelings that are of deep importance but can’t afford airtime in a commercialized, status-conscious, and cynical world.

IT’S A CURE FOR LONELINESS
We’re weirder than we like to admit. We often can’t say what’s really on our minds. But in books we find descriptions of who we genuinely are and what events, described with an honesty quite different from what ordinary conversation allows for. In the best books, it’s as if the writer knows us better than we know ourselves — they find the words to describe the fragile, weird, special experiences of our inner lives… Writers open our hearts and minds, and give us maps to our own selves, so that we can travel in them more reliably and with less of a feeling of paranoia or persecution…

IT PREPARES YOU FOR FAILURE
All of our lives, one of our greatest fears is of failure, of messing up, of becoming, as the tabloids put it, “a loser.” Every day, the media takes us into stories of failure. Interestingly, a lot of literature is also about failure — in one way or another, a great many novels, plays, poems are about people who messed up… Great books don’t judge as harshly or as one-dimensionally as the media…

Literature deserves its prestige for one reason above all others — because it’s a tool to help us live and die with a little bit more wisdom, goodness, and sanity.

Source: http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/10/09/school-of-life-literature-reading/

Part five summary

Death makes a "small" (he says small because he doesn't give much details about it) announcement about Rudy's  death. Death says that he feels bad about spoiling the book, but he hates mysteries. He confesses too that he feels bad to take Rudy away.
Death says that a game started, and in this game there is a seven sided die. He uses this die to represent the events that happened when Max lived with the Hubermanns which are: The Haircut, The Newspaper, The Weatherman, The Boxer, The New Dream, The Painters and The Showdown. The seven sided die is a very good symbol for the history. It shows us that Max and the Hubermanns' future is uncertain
We can notice that Death likes to show us his opinion on everything. As a consequence, the reader starts to think like Death, to imagine what is going to happen based on Death's point of view.
We then move to The Haircut:
The Hubermanns are discussing because Rosa can't find the scissors to cut Max's hair. It shows us that Hans and Rosa aren't a very "peaceful" couple, as they discuss for little things.
Liesel goes to the mayor's wife library frequently. Once, she is tempted to say that there is a Jew at her house, but she doesn't say this.
Liesel picks up crosswords to Max. The two are very good friends, because Liesel feels that Max suffered the same things that she suffered. The two lost their families. Hans is very bonded to Max too. He feels that, by helping Max, he is helping his old friend Erik. Liesel informs Max the weather, and once, inspired by what Liesel related, he made a drawing.
 Max feels that he is getting very weak so he starts to exercise to be entertained and to recover his strength. Sometimes he even imagines himself boxing Hitler. We can notice many aspects of the "true" war in this fight. The referee says that Hitler and Max should fight cleanly, but Hitler could fight "dirty" if he was losing. In Germany it's pretty similar. When Max knocks-out Hitler, the Fuhrer takes off his gloves and asks for the Germans who were watching the fight to, together, fight against the Jew. The Germans agree. It shows us that, even if Hitler wasn't very strong physically, when he spoke he was very powerful.
The last person that enters in the ring was a girl, who brings a newspaper to Max. It was Liesel. Again, in his fantasy, we can notice another aspect of the German reality: even if many Germans don't like him, Liesel likes him very much.
Death says that there was a German and a Jew in a basement. It seems like a joke, but it wasn't, says the narrator. It shows us that something important is about to happen.
We then move to "The Painters"
When Liesel goes to the mayor's house, Frau Herrman gives an envelope to the girl. The woman doesn't want her service anymore. Liesel feels the hate inside her, and verbally attacks Frau Hermann. After, she feels very bad for that.

Rudy's youth

Death says that Rudy and Tommy Muller have the same three problems:
-Tommy's ears
-Franz Deutscher, the Hitler's Youth leader
-Rudy's inability to stay out of things

Rudy tells Liesel his problems, and asks to Liesel for a kiss, to comfort him, but as always, she refuses.


The losers


The apple thief gang has now a new leader. In the place of Arthur Berg, a fair and generous leader, there is Viktor Chemmel, a kind of young Hitler. He has no respect for Rudy, who tries to makes the apple thief gang a fair and friendly gang, and disrespectful, completely different from Arthur. Now Rudy has another enemy, and things starts to get worse for him.


Sketches

To get entertained, Max tries to write an autobiography, but his exile makes the book a couple of different ideas. When Max tries to sketch, he closes the book and goes to bed. Some time after, Liesel goes to the basement and reads some pages of the book.


The whistler and the shoes

Rudy is very sad with his new leaders, and to comfort him, Liesel decides to steal food from the mayor's house (we can notice that Liesel got attached to Rosa, because she wants to revenge her mother) with him. When she faces the opportunity, she realizes that her true focus was to steal the book "The Whistler" and not food. When she leaves the house, she realizes that she forgot her shoes there. Rudy enters there and gets it, in a courageous act. From Rudy, Liesel receives the title of "The Book Thief".

Three Acts of Stupidity by Rudy Steiner

Death says that Rudy did three acts of stupidity:
-Stole the biggest potato from Mamer's the local grocer
-Talking to Franz Deutscher on Munich Street
-Miss all the Hitler Youth meetings
Rudy behaviour is getting dangerous. He refuses to go to the Hitler Youth, even if his parents are begging him to. His older brother proposes that he can go to his division, with older boys. Rudy accepts, and for the first time,  his stupid behaviour brings him benefits.

The Floating Book

Rudy and Liesel are talking, when Viktor Schmeikl appears. He takes the book that Liesel has in her hands and asks for money to give it back for her. Liesel doesn't accept, and Viktor flings the book in a river. Rudy, in another courageous act, swims in the cold water and picks the book. He expects to get a kiss from Liesel, but once again, she doesn't kiss him. For the last time in Rudy's life.