Portfolio Assignment 8.3: Edgar Allan Poe Story Analysis You will be reading a short story of Edgar Allan Poes called William Wilson. He wrote the classic suspenseful story in 1839. I dont want to give anything away, so well discuss literary terms after you have read the story. I have broken the story up into three parts and edited parts of it to make it a little shorter. The main character, William Wilson, goes through a dramatic change in characterization in the story. As you read, there are several things I want you to do: Read the section once through for comprehension. On the second reading, underline or highlight any words you dont understand and look them up using another resource, such as a dictionary and write definition you find in the space provided. I want you to highlight at least one word per page, but my guess is there will be more than one word you want to look up. In each part of the story (so a total of three times), write any questions you have about what is going on in the story in the space provided, and then write the answers to those questions as you find them in the story. Underline or highlight the point in the story when William Wilson loses his sanity. Make a note at the point in the story when you have what I call the aha! moment, when you understand what exactly is driving William Wilson insane. Download this assignment here and turn it in with portfolio 2. Please keep copies of all assignments. Independent Study is not responsible for lost assignments. For your convenience and enjoyment, I have provided a graphic novel version of the story. To turn the pages, click near any outside corner of the book. Drag your mouse to the left or right to turn the pages. Activity 8.1. William Wilson, by Edgar Allen Poe Courtesy of www.classicshorts.com Poes central theme of William Wilson hangs predominantly on one literary element. That literary element is the doppelgnger. It comes from German: doppel meaning double and gnger meaning goer. It can literally mean look-alike. In literature, it is used as a ghostly double of a living person. In some mythologies, seeing your doppelgnger is an omen of death. In folklore, doppelgangers cast no shadows or reflections. They may give advice, but the advice may be malicious or may be purposely confusing. What is so fantastic about this story is that it feeds on the psychological fear that somewhere in the world, there might be someone just like each of us running around doing who knows what. This concept has been used many times in literature and in film, whether it is an exact twin or someone who is trying to take the place of another person. So the question is: Why would Poe hinge a terrifying story on one literary element? Just what exactly is he revealing about human nature? Portfolio Assignment 8.4: William Wilson Opinion Essay William Wilson is a frightening tale of a school boy slowly and steadily falling into insanity while being haunted by his doppelgnger. Yet, this is just one small view of a much larger picture that Edgar Allan Poe is trying to reveal to the reader. You will be writing a short one-page essay on the following prompt: What statement is Poe making in William Wilson about human nature and society in general? Explain how events in the story prove and support your opinion. Your essay needs to be one page typed. It will be turned in with portfolio 2. Please format and submit your assignment according to the instructions in the syllabus and format them in the following manner: In the top left-hand side of the page please include: the portfolio submission number the name of the assignment and lesson number it came from your name date Be sure to save your assignment as a .doc or .PDF file. Please keep copies of all assignments. Independent Study is not responsible for lost assignments.

Portfolio Assignment 8.3: Edgar Allan Poe Story Analysis You will be reading a short story of Edgar Allan Poes called William Wilson. He wrote the classic suspenseful story in 1839. I dont want to give anything away, so well discuss literary terms after you have read the story. I have broken the story up into three parts and edited parts of it to make it a little shorter. The main character, William Wilson, goes through a dramatic change in characterization in the story. As you read, there are several things I want you to do: Read the section once through for comprehension. On the second reading, underline or highlight any words you dont understand and look them up using another resource, such as a dictionary and write definition you find in the space provided. I want you to highlight at least one word per page, but my guess is there will be more than one word you want to look up. In each part of the story (so a total of three times), write any questions you have about what is going on in the story in the space provided, and then write the answers to those questions as you find them in the story. Underline or highlight the point in the story when William Wilson loses his sanity. Make a note at the point in the story when you have what I call the aha! moment, when you understand what exactly is driving William Wilson insane. Download this assignment here and turn it in with portfolio 2. Please keep copies of all assignments. Independent Study is not responsible for lost assignments. For your convenience and enjoyment, I have provided a graphic novel version of the story. To turn the pages, click near any outside corner of the book. Drag your mouse to the left or right to turn the pages. Activity 8.1. William Wilson, by Edgar Allen Poe Courtesy of www.classicshorts.com Poes central theme of William Wilson hangs predominantly on one literary element. That literary element is the doppelgnger. It comes from German: doppel meaning double and gnger meaning goer. It can literally mean look-alike. In literature, it is used as a ghostly double of a living person. In some mythologies, seeing your doppelgnger is an omen of death. In folklore, doppelgangers cast no shadows or reflections. They may give advice, but the advice may be malicious or may be purposely confusing. What is so fantastic about this story is that it feeds on the psychological fear that somewhere in the world, there might be someone just like each of us running around doing who knows what. This concept has been used many times in literature and in film, whether it is an exact twin or someone who is trying to take the place of another person. So the question is: Why would Poe hinge a terrifying story on one literary element? Just what exactly is he revealing about human nature? Portfolio Assignment 8.4: William Wilson Opinion Essay William Wilson is a frightening tale of a school boy slowly and steadily falling into insanity while being haunted by his doppelgnger. Yet, this is just one small view of a much larger picture that Edgar Allan Poe is trying to reveal to the reader. You will be writing a short one-page essay on the following prompt: What statement is Poe making in William Wilson about human nature and society in general? Explain how events in the story prove and support your opinion. Your essay needs to be one page typed. It will be turned in with portfolio 2. Please format and submit your assignment according to the instructions in the syllabus and format them in the following manner: In the top left-hand side of the page please include: the portfolio submission number the name of the assignment and lesson number it came from your name date Be sure to save your assignment as a .doc or .PDF file. Please keep copies of all assignments. Independent Study is not responsible for lost assignments.