1. Think about your topic
1.1. What will you enjoy writing about?
1.1.1. The different feelings that are evoked with each bell
1.2. Why will someone who reads this be interested?
1.2.1. Because, if read correctly, this poem reads like a roller-coaster. The repetition of the word "bells" rings in your ears creating a sound that is either joyful, sorrowful, frightful, worrisome
1.3. What's your goal for this paper?
1.3.1. Inspire someone about your topic?
1.3.2. Specific grade?
1.3.3. Do your best work?
2. Proofread & Finalize
2.1. Cover Page
2.2. Table of Contents
2.3. Bibliography
3. Write and Edit
3.1. Don't be afraid to edit. Simple, memorable information is hard and requires filtering.
4. Poem Structure Atmosphere / Mood
4.1. Sounds and feelings of "The Bells"
4.1.1. "Tinkle" of bells - feeling of childhood and silliness
4.1.1.1. Think of "sledges" (sleighs) the children ride. Going down a hill laughing and screaming with delight
4.1.1.2. "tinkle" the sound of a small bell, reminder of children and excitement.
4.1.1.3. Tinkle - onomatopoeia
4.1.1.4. during the night which could mean that an end is coming
4.1.1.4.1. so even though this is a happier verse, doom may lurk soon enough
4.1.1.4.2. clear night because stars are out
4.1.2. "Molten-golden notes" of weddings - feeling of excitement and merriment
4.1.2.1. newness or beginning of something
4.1.2.2. "harmony foretells" could be a feeling of agreement with the world that all will be fine
4.1.2.3. happiness is coming
4.1.2.4. fluid song while triumphant for the future
4.1.2.5. this bell is pleasing to the ear
4.1.2.5.1. has a drive or force behind it that pushes you forward
4.1.3. "Alarum bells" - feeling of worry, danger and fear
4.1.3.1. harsh sounding
4.1.3.2. violent
4.1.3.3. shock
4.1.3.4. story of horror
4.1.3.5. terrible
4.1.3.6. you can feel these bells
4.1.3.6.1. palpitable
4.1.3.7. angry
4.1.3.8. the story these bells want to tell we don't want to hear
4.1.3.9. Brass bells
4.1.4. "Tolling of the bells, Iron bells" Melancholy and menacing "moaning and groaning"
4.1.4.1. deep sounding brings fear of unknown
4.1.4.2. silence of night (or ending) means the sounds carry for a longer time and farther in distance than in the noisiness of the day
4.1.4.3. death is eminent
4.1.4.4. "sobbing of the bells"
4.1.4.4.1. mourning
4.1.4.4.2. actual tears not just sadness
4.1.4.4.3. hopelessness
4.1.4.5. "Ghouls" - ghosts of the dead
4.1.4.6. paean
4.1.4.6.1. song of praise of triumph
4.1.4.6.2. a thing that expresses enthusiastic praise
4.1.4.6.3. how is death to be praised enthusiastically
5. Research
5.1. Compile some ideas
5.2. Supporting sources
5.2.1. Find examples
5.2.2. Find relevant quotes
5.2.3. References
5.2.3.1. Books
5.2.3.2. News sources
5.2.3.3. Blogs
5.2.3.4. Supporting Data
5.2.3.4.1. Expert reports
5.2.3.4.2. Third party research
5.2.3.4.3. Survey data
5.2.3.4.4. Size of topic
5.2.4. Pollin
5.2.4.1. Poe's deep interest in the theme of bells (or chimes, a true synonym) for various types of writings surely springs from their obvious symbolism for the passage of time, as in "The Masque of the Red Death," or the evocation of differing moods, such as playfulness (as in the belled, jester's cap in "Hop-Frog" or "The Cask of Amontillado") or the knell of death
5.2.5. Cummings Study Guide
5.2.5.1. "All the while, the bells keep time, counting each passing moment. "
5.2.6. Sova
5.2.6.1. "The speaker points out to readers the sound of the merry silver bells of youth"pg 30
5.2.6.2. "creates a sense of excitement and the promise of undefined possibilities." pg 30
5.2.6.3. "evoke the harsh and discordant sounds of the brass alarm bells, which offer terrifying sounds that are harsh and angry with their “clanging,” “jangling,” and “wrangling.” The frightening sounds upset their listeners and make their hearts beat faster at the fear of the danger they promise." pg 30
5.2.6.4. "iron bells produce a melancholy sound that saddens all who hear them." pg 30
6. Biography Structure
6.1. Death
6.1.1. Mother of consumption (TB)
6.1.2. Brother of consumption (TB)
6.1.3. Wife of consumption (TB)
6.1.3.1. she was 12 when they married, he was 26
6.1.3.2. his cousin
6.1.3.3. marriage certificate says she was 21
6.1.3.4. after her death he went through bouts of insanity
6.1.4. Poe died mysteriously at the age of 40
6.1.4.1. found "drunk" outside of a bar
6.1.4.2. not in own clothes
6.1.4.3. became delirious at hospital
6.1.4.3.1. said that he came to his senses for a short time and then died
6.1.5. first love of brain cancer
6.1.5.1. mother of friend, Poe was 15 and very much in love with her
6.1.6. foster mother of consumption (TB)
6.2. Work
6.2.1. Critic
6.2.1.1. extremely harsh
6.2.2. Poet
6.2.2.1. Love and death became common themes
6.2.2.2. Curious about afterlife
6.2.2.3. some poems were meant to be read out loud for greatest affect
6.2.2.3.1. Poe did dramatic reading of "The Raven" several times
6.2.2.4. morbid fears and secret longings
6.2.2.5. doom and gloom writing
6.2.2.6. Poetry was his first love
6.2.2.6.1. began writing this in teens
6.2.2.7. Poetry not praised during his lifetime
6.2.2.7.1. "In contrast to earlier critics who viewed the man and his works as one, criticism of the past twenty-five years has developed a view of Poe as a detached artist who was more concerned with displaying his virtuosity than with expressing his “soul,” and who maintained an ironic rather than an autobiographical relationship to his writings."
6.2.2.7.2. critics judged his work as unworthy of serious consideration "juvenile, vulgar, artistically debased"
6.2.2.8. natural liking for the Romantic movement
6.2.3. Editor
6.2.4. Short Stories
6.2.5. Letters
6.2.6. Went to an interview drunk
6.2.7. Constant struggle to make ends meet
6.3. Illness
6.3.1. Alcholism
6.3.1.1. showed out to an interview drunk
6.3.2. Depression
6.3.3. Drugs
6.3.4. Bouts of insanity
6.4. School
6.4.1. friends said he would be an artist or poet
6.4.1.1. drew on walls of room
6.4.2. foster father would not pay bills
6.4.2.1. tried gambling to earn money to pay school bills
6.4.2.2. for fear of debtors prison, Poe enlisted in Army under an assumed name - Edgar A Perry
6.5. Parents
6.5.1. Father abandoned family when Poe was 1
6.5.2. mother died when Poe was 2 (almost 3)
6.5.3. became foster child
6.5.3.1. other 2 siblings went to different foster homes
6.6. Accilades
6.6.1. "Creator of the modern horror tale
6.6.2. "credited with parenting two other popular genres: science fiction and the detective story"
6.6.3. won literary prize (not sure what it is yet)