Michael Tannebaum

Seventh-graders in Rebecca Wnek’s class at DuBose Middle School created biographical tombstones of Edgar Allan Poe. From left: Savannah Vigeant, Joey McCallister, Michael Murray and Corey Hopkins.

The day before Halloween, the normally lively media center at DuBose Middle School looked and sounded like a graveyard – literally.

Seventh-graders in an English/Language Arts class delivered somber eulogies while about 20 tombstones covered with spider webs, black birds and other creepy creatures formed a cemetery nearby.

Earlier this year, the great American writer Edgar Allan Poe, known largely for his Gothic literature, would have celebrated his 200th birthday. In the days leading up to the memorial service held for Poe, Rebecca Wnek’s class had analyzed the themes and imagery present in his work as well as the difficult circumstances under which he lived.

The eulogies highlighted Poe’s earliest years to his death, detailing everything from how his father left his family only a year after he was born to his death in 1849, the cause of which remains a mystery.

While students made mention of the trials and tribulations through which Poe endured, the memorial service also celebrated his work as students recounted his numerous successes including “The Raven,” one of the most legendary poems ever written.

It was appropriate that the eulogies were delivered on the day before Halloween as many of the students noted that much of Poe’s work told dark and scary stories.

The tombstones that the students created to accompany their eulogies showcased their creativity. Some of the tombstones had ravens perched atop them, while others had quotes from some of Poe’s most renowned works.

Near where the students delivered their tributes, a screen displayed a large portrait of Poe, who looked as if he were watching the entire event unfold. In the portrait, Poe has a slight smirk as if he were showing his approval of the students’ work.

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com

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