A Modern Adaptation of "The Raven"

With this activity, students will take Poe’s “The Raven” and adapt it for the modern day.

An excellent way to get students thinking about the poem is to have them make a modern day adaptation. To make an effective adaptation, students must understand the poem, and what makes it unique. Keeping the elements of the poem in mind, student's adaptation should parallel the plot, but may use a more modern setting, word choice, and speaker.

This adaptation of “The Raven" maintains a similar meter, and keeps the same subject matter. A proper adaptation preserves the underlying structure of the work. Students should be able to reread their first draft, and recognize the sound and feel of the original work.

The Beginning of a Modern "Raven"

Once upon a night so stormy, while I wandered with my homies,

With a pile of hero comics, from ages now long yore,

I felt a tiredness quite sapping, and went home, to start my napping.

When out of nowhere, came a scratching, scratching at my bedroom door.

I told myself, "it's just a rat", scratching at my bedroom door;

Just a rodent, nothing more.

Quickly then I did remember, Uncle Pete in last December,

Who had ignored the noisome scratching, that came at his basement door.

I took up my mag-light, fading, its batteries, they need replacing,

And forced myself up to the door...