10 Best Edgar Allan Poe Stories to Teach (And How to Teach Them)

Spooky season is creeping closer, and no writer captures the macabre quite like Edgar Allan Poe. I’ve always loved his work — the atmosphere, the obsession with guilt and madness, the way he straddles poetry, short story, and detective fiction. He’s not just a Halloween gimmick; he’s one of the most versatile authors to bring into an English classroom.

Students are fascinated by him. Even the reluctant readers perk up when you tell them The Tell-Tale Heart was once banned for being too disturbing, or when they realise The Murders in the Rue Morgue is basically the birth of the detective genre. And then there’s the ultimate Gothic question: how did Poe die? Found delirious and rambling on the streets of Baltimore, wearing clothes that weren’t his own, he died a few days later, with the exact cause still unknown. Was it alcohol, illness, political foul play, or something stranger? Nobody knows for sure.

For me, teaching Poe has always been about more than the chills. His stories and poems are perfect for:

• close textual analysis (unreliable narrators, symbolism, and structure)

• creative responses (diaries, police reports, visual prompts)

• cross-curricular links with history, psychology, and even criminology

• and, of course, sparking the kind of discussions where students argue passionately about whether Montresor was justified or whether the House of Usher itself is alive.

If you’re planning a Gothic or short story unit, these are my favourite Poe works to teach, and how to make them unforgettable in your classroom.

1. The Fall of the House of Usher

There’s no better place to begin with Poe than The Fall of the House of Usher. It’s the quintessential Gothic tale — crumbling architecture, doomed family lines, blurred boundaries between the psychological and the supernatural. Students love speculating about whether the house itself is alive, and its slow, eerie build makes it ideal for close reading of atmosphere and description.

How I teach it: I focus on the imagery and symbolism — the fissure in the house, the storm, the entombment of Madeline. Silent debates work brilliantly here (“Is the house a character in its own right?”), as do creative tasks like writing from Roderick’s perspective or sketching the Usher mansion exactly as described.

Resource spotlight: My full Usher bundle includes everything you need — from quizzes, crosswords, and bingo games to creative writing prompts, essay questions, and picture prompts with matching sensory worksheets. It’s designed to cover analysis, comprehension, and creative engagement in one package, so you can choose what fits your classroom best.

2. The Masque of the Red Death

If you’re looking for a Poe story that oozes atmosphere, The Masque of the Red Death is it. The setting is so visual — the castle, the masquerade ball, the progression through the coloured rooms — that students can’t help but imagine it vividly. It’s also one of the best introductions to allegory, since the entire story functions as a symbol of inevitability. Short, strange, and memorable, it always sparks discussion about power, mortality, and fear.

How I teach it: I usually start with the imagery of the rooms and the ominous clock, asking students to create colour-symbolism charts or design their own “final room.” It’s also great for comparative analysis with modern allegories or dystopian texts. For creative work, I’ve had students storyboard the masquerade as a graphic novel or rewrite it in a contemporary setting (what would Prospero’s party look like in 2025?).

Resource spotlight: My full Masque of the Red Death bundle includes everything from crosswords, word searches, and bingo review games to creative tasks, discussion boards, essay questions, and even a self-grading quiz. Teachers are already loving it — the bundle currently has a ★★★★★ rating on TpT. It’s designed to mix analysis with creativity, so you can cover symbolism, theme, and critical thinking without losing that eerie, cinematic quality of the story.

3. The Black Cat

If The Tell-Tale Heart is Poe’s most famous tale of guilt, The Black Cat is its darker, more unsettling cousin. Students are often shocked by its violence, which makes it perfect for discussions around perverseness, addiction, and the unreliable narrator. It’s also an ideal text for comparing Gothic horror with psychological realism — the line between supernatural haunting and human monstrosity is deliberately blurred.

How I teach it: I usually frame it around the question: “Can we trust the narrator?” Silent debates work brilliantly here, alongside case-file style tasks like police reports or trial transcripts. I also find students engage well with visual prompts — sketching the cellar scene, or storyboarding the final reveal.

Resource spotlight: My full Black Cat bundle includes word searches, crosswords, bingo games, and a self-grading quiz alongside essay questions, picture prompts, silent debate tasks, and creative writing activities. It’s designed to let you mix analysis and creativity, so students can grapple with the horror while sharpening their critical thinking skills.

4. The Tell-Tale Heart

No Poe list would be complete without The Tell-Tale Heart. It’s short, sharp, and unforgettable — the perfect introduction to unreliable narration. Students are immediately hooked by the infamous heartbeat scene, and it opens up rich discussions around madness, obsession, and the fine line between truth and delusion. It’s also one of those texts where even reluctant readers lean in — they want to know what happens next.

How I teach it: I often begin with a dramatic read-aloud to set the atmosphere, then move into close analysis of the narrator’s voice. Is he sane or insane? That debate never fails to get students talking. For creative responses, I’ve had classes rewrite the story from the neighbour’s or police officer’s perspective, or design “crime reports” for the murder.

Resource spotlight: MyTell-Tale Heart bundle includes everything from word searches, crosswords, and bingo review games to essay questions, creative writing tasks, a self-grading quiz, and even TikTok-style activities. It’s designed to help you cover analysis, comprehension, and creative engagement while keeping the tension of the story alive in your classroom.

5. The Raven

Arguably Poe’s most famous poem, The Raven is Gothic poetry at its best: hypnotic rhythm, haunting repetition, and an unforgettable refrain. Students are drawn to its atmosphere even before they fully grasp the meaning — and once they do, they see how grief, obsession, and madness are woven into every stanza. It’s a perfect piece for teaching sound devices, symbolism, and the musicality of poetry.

How I teach it: I like to begin with a dramatic reading (sometimes even playing a recording of Christopher Lee or James Earl Jones reading it aloud). Then I guide students through the poem’s structure — the rhyme, meter, and refrain — before diving into its themes of grief and obsession. Creative activities work really well here, too: blackout poetry from selected stanzas, designing illustrated staves of the poem, or rewriting the refrain with a modern twist.

Resource spotlight: My growing Raven bundle includes word searches, crosswords, bingo review games, and a self-grading quiz alongside essay questions, creative writing prompts, discussion boards, and extended creative tasks. It’s designed to help students explore both the technical craft and emotional weight of Poe’s most iconic poem.

6. Annabel Lee

If The Raven is obsession, Annabel Lee is mourning wrapped in beauty. Poe’s final poem is deceptively simple, but its lyrical quality and theme of eternal love resonate strongly with students. It’s a brilliant way to show how Gothic doesn’t always mean grotesque — here the supernatural blends with romantic devotion, and death becomes a backdrop for undying affection.

How I teach it: I like to focus on the tension between beauty and tragedy. The poem’s musicality makes it perfect for oral reading exercises, and students enjoy exploring how repetition and rhythm shape the emotional impact. Creative tasks also work well — rewriting the poem as a modern love song, or designing visual mood boards inspired by its imagery.

Resource spotlight: I have a growing set of Annabel Lee resources — including picture prompts, essay questions, a self-grading quiz, creative writing prompts, and a roll-the-dice discussion board — available individually in my TpT store. They’re ideal for helping students connect with both the emotional resonance and the poetic craft of Poe’s final work.

7. William Wilson

William Wilson isn’t always the first Poe story that comes to mind, but it’s one of the most rewarding to teach. Themes of duality, identity, and conscience make it perfect for high-level discussion, and students are intrigued by the eerie doppelgänger motif. It’s also a brilliant text for exploring narrative perspective and the Gothic fascination with fractured selves.

How I teach it: I like to frame the story around the idea of “the double” — is Wilson haunted by another person, or by himself? This sparks debates about morality, guilt, and whether the second Wilson is real or symbolic. Activities like character charts, mock “courtroom trials,” or reflective diary entries work particularly well.

Resource spotlight: My William Wilson bundle is growing, but already includes a digital review quiz, essay questions, creative writing prompts, a crossword, a word search, and a roll-the-dice discussion board. It’s an ideal starting point for unpacking one of Poe’s most psychologically complex tales, with more resources still to come.

8. The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Often called the first modern detective story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue shows just how wide Poe’s influence stretches. Dupin’s deductive reasoning would inspire Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and generations of fictional detectives. Students are fascinated by the mix of Gothic atmosphere and logical problem-solving, and it’s a great text for showing how genre evolves.

How I teach it: I focus on Dupin as a prototype detective — what makes him effective, and what flaws he has. Students enjoy comparing his reasoning to modern crime-solving, or debating whether the story feels more like Gothic horror or detective fiction. Creative activities work well too: crime scene diagrams, witness statements, or even retelling the story as a newspaper article.

Resource spotlight: I have a full Rue Morgue bundle available on my TpT store, which includes editable creative writing prompts, a multiple-choice digital quiz, and a set of essay questions. It’s ideal for exploring the story’s suspense, atmosphere, and the theme of logic versus violence, and comes with a wide range of additional resources to support teaching and learning.

9. The Cask of Amontillado

Few Poe stories grab students as quickly as The Cask of Amontillado. Its mix of wine-cellar setting, twisted revenge, and chilling finale makes it unforgettable. The unreliable narrator Montresor is fascinating to analyse — is he justified, delusional, or simply evil? And Fortunato’s fate always sparks debate about pride, trust, and manipulation.

How I teach it: I like to start with the story’s framing — Montresor telling the tale fifty years later — and then dig into how irony and symbolism build tension. It’s perfect for role-play activities like mock trials or persuasive speeches (“Was Montresor guilty of murder or just revenge?”). Students also enjoy designing escape room–style puzzles inspired by the catacombs.

Resource spotlight: My Cask of Amontillado bundle is growing, but already includes creative writing prompts (PDF and digital), a self-grading quiz, a roll-the-dice discussion board, and a word search. More resources are being added soon, making it a flexible way to teach one of Poe’s darkest and most accessible stories.

10. The Purloined Letter

The Purloined Letter is a clever reminder that Poe didn’t just pioneer Gothic horror — he also laid the foundations for detective fiction. Students are often surprised by its simplicity: the “mystery” hinges on something hidden in plain sight. It’s a brilliant story for teaching critical thinking, problem-solving, and the idea that not every puzzle requires complexity to be effective.

How I teach it: I frame it as an exercise in logic and perspective — what makes Dupin successful where the police fail? It pairs nicely with modern detective shows or puzzles, and works well for activities like “hide the letter”, classroom games or retelling the story in a police procedural format.

Resource spotlight: My Purloined Letter bundle is still growing, but already includes a digital quiz, word search, creative writing prompts (PDF + digital), and a roll-the-dice discussion board. It’s ideal for exploring Poe’s detective fiction in a way that combines close reading with interactive activities, with more resources to be added soon.

Final Thoughts

Teaching Poe never gets old. Whether it’s the psychological horror of The Tell-Tale Heart, the Gothic decay of The Fall of the House of Usher, or the detective brilliance of The Murders in the Rue Morgue, his works spark the kind of curiosity and discussion that stays with students. They’re short, accessible, and endlessly rich for analysis, the perfect blend of rigor and engagement.

If you want to dive deeper, I’m building a Poe Mega Bundle that will eventually include every single Poe resource I’ve created — from quizzes and essay questions to creative writing prompts, discussion boards, and picture prompts. It’s the easiest way to bring the full range of Poe’s macabre genius into your classroom, and it’s growing all the time.