Points of View and

Poe
A WebQuest for 10th Grade (POV)

Designed by

Demi Mimbela
drmimbela@miners.utep.edu

Introduction
Narrators are often used to guide the reader through a story.
Sometimes, they are all knowing, able to see inside the minds of the
characters. Other times, they only see things from their own perspectives, as
they are a character in the story themselves. The point of view of narrators
inevitably shape a story, but what happens when our narrator’s aren’t always
trustworthy? What are we to believe as truth or lies? We will explore how
different points of view can affect the tone of a story, particularly when we
experience an unreliable narrator in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-tale Heart”.
The Task
 Transform Poe’s Annabel Lee to include an unreliable narrator
The Process
1. First you will be randomly separated into groups of 4 and provided
with blank graphic organizers
2. Each of your members will receive a slip of paper (1st person POV, 2nd
person POV, 3rd person POV, etc.)
3. Using the links provided, each of your members will define and explore
their individual POV, listing their notes on a graphic organizer

https://thewritepractice.com/point-of-view-guide/

https://www.nownovel.com/blog/different-points-of-view-tips/

https://www.nownovel.com/blog/unreliable-narrator/

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/the-unreliable-narrator-in-fiction-
1277141

4. After everyone is finished, you will each share your findings with one
another, completing each of your organizers with the information
5. Then, you will move on to reading aloud “The Tell-tale Heart”
6. As a group, identify and discuss the POV of the narrator and why he
might be unreliable
7. Briefly share with the class how the narrator’s POV affects the tone of
the story
8. Next, you will read aloud “Annabel Lee,” taking turns as a group
9. Again, you will identify the narrator’s POV and if they are reliable
10. You will then pick one of the following reasons for the narrator of
“Annabel Lee” to become unreliable: (1) Annabel Lee is a figment of
the narrator’s imagination (2) The narrator murdered Annabel Lee
and claimed she died from sickness (3) Annabel Lee actually left the
narrator, and he has chosen to believe she died instead, unable to
cope with the reality
11. Next, you will collaboratively transform “Annabel Lee” to include your
chosen reason for an unreliable narrator
12. Finally, you will read aloud the your transformed poem to the class
Evaluation
Describe to the learners how their performance will be evaluated. Specify
whether there will be a common grade for group work vs. individual grades.

Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary Score

1 2 3 4
Students speak Able to hear Students speak Students speak
too quietly/do students speak/ clearly and loud clearly and
Presentation not maintain maintain some enough/ maintain confidently/
of Poem any eye contact eye contact/ eye contact maintain eye
with audience/ maintain some throughout most of contact/ convey
lack presence presence presentation/ use confidence
(Voice, eye
from body through body appropriate body through
contact,
language and/or language and language for the appropriate
presence)
fidgeting limited fidgeting most part body language

Students
Use of Little to no Use of demonstrate
Unreliable Use of reliable
demonstration unreliable mastery of
Narrator narrator is clearly
of unreliable narrator is using an
evident in modified
narrator in somewhat unreliable
poem
modified poem evident in poem narrator in
modified poem

Graphic Some notes on In depth and

Clear notes on POV
organizers Little to no POV and effect, organized notes
and effects, though
notes on POV though on POV and
there is room for
and effects incomplete or their effects on
more information
ineffective a story
Conclusion
Students will have gained an understanding of the different characteristics
and points of view a narrative can take on, as well as how each of these
factors into the tone and mood of an overall story. Additionally, students will
have practiced researching, organizing information, and writing poetry. To
further explore the effect of narrators, here are some other short stories and
books:

“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Credits & References

http://stylisticmiracles.blogspot.com/2013/05/characters-in-tell-tale-heart.html

https://thewritepractice.com/point-of-view-guide/

https://www.nownovel.com/blog/different-points-of-view-tips/

https://www.nownovel.com/blog/unreliable-narrator/

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/the-unreliable-narrator-in-fiction-
1277141

Poe: Stories and Poems by Gareth Hinds (graphic novel adaptation)

Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page