Eldorado

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** __The Background__ ** Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. His mom died just two years later, after separating with Poe's father, which separated his  family. To get the whole meaning of this poem, the word Eldorado needs to be understood. It was a mythical city made of gold that early Spanish explorers dreamed of finding. Eldorado was published in 1849, during the California gold rush. This poem is a direct response to this event by Poe, but the message can be applied to a variety of different occasions. **__T.I.M.E.__** **Themes:** 1. Regardless of the time it takes to accomplish and the difficulty of a goal, it still should be pursued. 2. Don't throw away your life for an unobtainable dream. ** Imagery: ** **Meter:** -Rhyme scheme is aabccb   -Iambic duometer of rhyming couplets gives the effect of a horse galloping. -(Except first 2 lines in 4th stanza) **Emotion:** Connotation and Diction -Starts off with a __gallant__ knight __singing__ a song, but as he continues to search he grew __old__ and his strength began to __fail__ him. -The knight is hopeful and confident when he begins his journey. -By the end of the poem the reader is left with a feeling of hopelessness. **__Questions__** 1. What significance do the two lines: "Over the Mountains/ Of the Moon" have in this poem? A. The shadow is trying to help the knight. B. They show that the task is difficult. C. The goal of the knight is impossible to achieve. D. It is the one spot that the knight did not look. E. Eldorado does exist, but the knight hasn't found it yet. 2. The repeating of the word "bold" by the shade shows that the shade... (line 22 from line 8) A. is hopeful that Eldorado exists. B. wants the knight to find Eldorado. C. wants to bring out the determination that the knight once had. D. doesn't know what he is talking about. E. is mocking the false hope that the knight once had. 3. What is a possible reason that the first couplet in the 4th stanza does not rhyme? A. The knight is getting help from the shade. B. The knight has died looking for Eldorado. C. The couplet provides the location of Eldorado. D. Poe did not feel that it was necessary. E. The knight has renewed hope in finding Eldorado. **__Resources__** -http://home.cogeco.ca/~rayser3/Eldorado.txt -http://poestories.com/biography.php -http://www.biography.com/people/edgar-allan-poe-9443160 Images and Video: -http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Edgar_Allan_Poe_portrait_B.jpg/220px-Edgar_Allan_Poe_portrait_B.jpg -http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FqHaKcpKR-s#!
 * Allusion-
 * "Valley of the Shadow" alludes to the biblical "Valley of the Shadow of Death" or hell.
 * The Shadow is an allusion to the devil, the knight loses confidence, "o'er his heart a shadow."
 * Symbolism
 * Eldorado symbolizes a goal that people dream of reaching but can't.
 * Repetition
 * Shadow is repeated in the 3rd line of each stanza, with a meaning that is progressively more severe. As the task of finding Eldorado may start to overwhelm the knight.

Created By Jeffrey S, AP English Pd. 4