10 Haunting Poems to Teach This Halloween (That Aren’t Just The Raven)
Halloween lessons can so easily default to short stories — Poe, Stoker, Jackson — but poetry offers just as much atmosphere, symbolism, and eerie delight. The right poem can fill a single lesson, spark discussion about voice and imagery, or slip into a wider Gothic unit without taking over the calendar. Yet while “The Raven” is a classic, there are plenty of other haunting poems that deserve classroom time in October.
In this post, I’ve gathered ten poems that bring just the right blend of Gothic atmosphere, supernatural mystery, and unsettling beauty. They’re accessible enough for middle and high school students, but layered enough to spark deep analysis. Perfect for when you want Halloween lessons that are engaging, literary, and just a little bit haunting.
The Raven – Edgar Allan Poe
I know, I know — the title promised not just “The Raven,” but it would be unthinkable to leave Poe’s masterpiece off a Halloween poetry list. Its hypnotic rhythm, gothic imagery, and unforgettable refrain of “Nevermore” make it one of the easiest poems to teach for atmosphere and symbolism. Students can trace how repetition builds tension, or explore the narrator’s descent into grief and madness. If you’d like ready-to-use resources, I’ve got a full bundle for The Raven on TpT that includes activities, analysis, and creative responses.
Christabel – Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Coleridge’s unfinished poem drips with atmosphere: a lonely night, an innocent young woman, and the mysterious Geraldine whose presence brings both fascination and dread. The fact that the poem breaks off unfinished only adds to the Gothic feel. In the classroom, Christabel works brilliantly for exploring Gothic archetypes (innocence vs. corruption, the uncanny stranger), or for comparing Romantic and Gothic writing.
Goblin Market – Christina Rossetti
Part fairy tale, part horror story, Goblin Market is filled with rich symbolism. Students can approach it as a tale of temptation and sisterly devotion, or delve into deeper interpretations around gender, desire, and consumerism. Its vivid imagery and narrative drive make it engaging even for reluctant readers, and it pairs beautifully with discussions about how poetry can feel like a story.
La Belle Dame sans Merci – John Keats
Keats gives us the classic Gothic femme fatale: a beautiful, otherworldly woman who entrances a knight only to leave him desolate. The poem’s ballad form makes it accessible, while the imagery and themes open up discussion on archetypes, gender, and Romantic obsession. It’s a fantastic text for comparison work, especially if students are looking at Gothic tropes across different writers.
The Listeners – Walter de la Mare
This poem’s mystery lies in what it doesn’t explain: a lone traveller, an abandoned house, and ghostly listeners who remain silent. The unanswered questions create an atmosphere that students love debating. It’s short, memorable, and ideal for teaching inference, symbolism, and how atmosphere can be built with suggestion rather than detail.
Lenore – Edgar Allan Poe
While The Raven gets all the attention, Lenore offers a shorter, sharper take on death and mourning. Its language is more direct, and students can explore how grief is both celebrated and defied in the poem. This one works well if you want to broaden Poe beyond his most famous works, or if you’re looking for a quick lesson on Gothic imagery and tone.
The Witch – Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
This compact, unsettling poem presents the witch not as a figure of power, but of danger and intrusion. Its brevity makes it an excellent choice for close reading and for showing how much atmosphere can be packed into just a few stanzas. Students can compare the portrayal of the witch here with how witches appear in folklore or other Gothic texts.
All Hallows’ Eve – Edna St. Vincent Millay
Millay’s poem captures the liminal, atmospheric feeling of Halloween night. It blends rich imagery with a sense of both reverence and unease, making it ideal for seasonal lessons. Students can use it as a model for writing their own descriptive Halloween poetry, or for comparing modern Gothic voices with classic ones.
Because I Could Not Stop for Death – Emily Dickinson
Dickinson’s calm, almost polite portrayal of death is one of the most chilling aspects of this poem. The carriage ride with Death personified opens up big questions about mortality, eternity, and the tone of acceptance vs. fear. It’s a great choice for discussions about how tone shapes meaning, and how Gothic doesn’t always have to mean overt horror.
The Unquiet Grave – Traditional Ballad
This traditional ballad gives students a taste of Gothic in folk form. Its dialogue between the living and the dead is both eerie and poignant, rooted in oral tradition. It’s a strong way to connect literature and folklore, and students can explore how recurring themes (love beyond death, haunting presences) appear across cultures and centuries.
Final Thoughts
Halloween doesn’t have to mean squeezing in another short story. Poetry can do just as much — if not more — to set a Gothic atmosphere, spark curiosity, and open space for analysis and creativity. Whether it’s the haunting rhythms of The Raven, the eerie silences of The Listeners, or the folkloric voices of The Unquiet Grave, these poems give students fresh ways to engage with Gothic themes while keeping lessons flexible and memorable.
If you’re planning your October lessons and want something ready to go, my Middle School Halloween Short Stories, Poetry, and Creative Writing Mega Bundle brings it all together. With ready-to-print resources across multiple genres, you’ll have everything you need to make Halloween lessons atmospheric, engaging, and stress-free.
