Topics for The Poe Shadow

Essay should be five pages with one primary source, The Poe Shadow. Be sure to quote from The Poe Shadow at least five times. Follow MLA format and be sure to have a Works Cited at the end of your paper.

1. Explore the father/son relationship between Clark and Duponte. Or explore the teacher/student relationship between Clark and Duponte.
2. Discuss how the adopted Peter took on the role as older brother in the family and did what was right, while Clark floated aimlessly. Or explore what would have happened if there was not a “Peter” and Clark had to run the business. Would he have been so taken up by Poe?
3. Compare and/or contrast Quentin and Peter.
4. Compare and/or contrast Hattie and Bonjour.
5. Compare and/or contrast Dupin and Duponte.
6. Pick one character flaw of Clark and explore: obsession, delusional or selfishness? Or do the opposite, pick one good quality from Clark and explore: love?
7. Explore the differences between doing what is right and what is expected. Use Quentin and Peter or any other two characters that can be contrasted with each other.
8. Explore the idea of slavery during this time period, and how the book shows us what slavery is like?
9. Explain how Quentin uses “ratiocination” throughout the book.
10. Explain the idea of “genius” that is mentioned throughout the book.
11. Give a critical analysis of your opinion of the book. Be sure to use characters, plot, and/or structure of the book to your show opinion.
12. If you have another idea, please see me for approval.

Works Cited:

Pearl, Matthew. The Poe Shadow. New York: Random House, 2007. Print.

How to Cite in Paper:

The main character in the story announces a startling revelation, “I think Poe is alive” (Pearl 1).

Pearl throws the reader off when Clark tells the reader, “I think Poe is alive” (1).