Portfolio Assignment 8.4, 8.5
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 doppelgänger. 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.
PART 2 (2PGS)
PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT 8.5
Despite how you might feel about Poe’s work yourself there is no denying the brilliance of his writing. His ability to weave a tale which toys with our imaginations is nearly unsurpassed. Think back on his stories which you’ve read and see if you can remember these hallmarks of his style. In fact, these are generally good traits for any narrative.
- An opening which introduces the audience to some or all of these elements: narrator, setting, the problem, characters. (Think about the opening of “William Wilson”—which of these were introduced?)
- Notice how he uses reflection to get the reader inside the head of the narrator.
- Poe varies the pacing of his stories, often using dialogue to slow time down and insert the reader into the story.
- Description which does not detract from the story. Good detail and sensory description (description using the five senses) is key to a story but if it is done with a heavy hand it can ruin the story.
- Poe’s conclusions, while often surprising, still feel as if they flow naturally from the previous scenes and details of the story.
Instead of relying upon one specific literary style or trick, Poe uses these and other techniques in combinations to draw the reader deeper into the story. Now that you’ve recognized these techniques and seen them used by a master, you get to implement them yourself.
Poe uses his excellent prose and narrative style to write fictional tales of suspense. You will do the same. I will walk you through the process of pre-writing then leave you to write your story. The first thing you’ve got to determine is what kind of scary or suspenseful story are you going to write. Will it be a supernatural thriller, or a suspenseful murder mystery, will there be ghosts, or an insane asylum?
Poe Short-story Rubric
| Strong | Developing | Emerging | |
| Opening | The opening of the story is interesting and introduces at least two of these elements: Narrator, setting, characters, conflict | The opening is interesting or introduces two of these elements: Narrator, setting, characters, conflict | The opening is neither interesting nor introduces any of these elements: Narrator, setting, characters, conflict |
| Detail | The story has good sensory detail which uses all of the senses at least once | The story has some sensory detail but only uses three of the five senses | The story has very little sensory detail using only one sense |
| Dialogue | Story has convincing dialogue which adds to the story | The story has dialogue | The story has very little or no dialogue |
| Conclusion | The story has a conclusion which flows naturally out of previous events. | The story has a conclusion which fits but doesn’t flow with the rest of the story | The story doesn’t have a conclusion or has a conclusion which seems to have nothing to do with the story |
| 5pts | 3pts | 1pts | |
| Total _____/20 | |||
| Story is no more than 2 pages single space. | 5pts | ||
| Turned in elements of plot outline | 5pts | ||
| Total_____/30 |
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Portfolio Assignment
Portfolio Assignment 8.4: “William Wilson” Opinion Essay
In William Wilson, Poe makes several statements about human nature and the society in general. In the short story, William is haunted by the image of a doppelganger who has many traits that are similar to his. Despite the fact that William Wilson comes from a profligate past, he denies his past and is not always ready to take blame for the actions that he undertakes. Poe tries to suggest that it is very easy for people within the society to ignore their conscience. There is an assumption that the conscience of an individual always tries to tell people perpetrate actions and activities that bring about great tidings for the people. Poe conveys the message through describing two characters who are very much alike and share many traits although their behaviors are very different.
(1,160 words)