This document provides an overview of key concepts for an 8th grade web quest on turning the invisible visible. It defines tragic and tragedy, discusses symbolism in art and literature, and profiles author Edgar Allan Poe. It instructs students to read one of Poe's short stories, then write a 200-word tragic story and accompanying illustration about an unfortunate event of the year. Students must use at least two techniques studied in class and present their work on the deadline to be evaluated based on composition, illustration skills, explanation of ideas, and punctuality.

1. Turning visible the invisible
Web Quest
8th grade
2nd term
The Victoria School

2. Key Concepts
Tragic
Characteristic or suggestive of tragedy. Extremely
mournful, melancholy, or pathetic. Dreadful, calamitous,
disastrous, or fatal.
Tragedy
Is a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes
in its audience an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in
the viewing.

3. Key Concepts
Symbolism
“In this art, scenes from nature, human activities, and all other
real world phenomena will not be described for their own sake;
here, they are perceptible surfaces created to represent their
esoteric affinities with the primordial Ideals”.
Symbolist Manifesto, Jean Moréas, Le Figaro 1886.
The symbolist painters used mythological and dream imagery.
The symbols used by symbolism are not the familiar emblems of
mainstream iconography but intensely personal, private,
obscure and ambiguous references.

4. Key Concepts
Edgar Allan Poe
American author, poet, editor,
and literary critic, considered
part of the American Romantic
Movement. His works were a
significant influence for the
symbolism and the source of
many stock tropes and images.
Best known for his tales of
mystery and the macabre, Poe
was one of the earliest American
practitioners of the short story.

5. Before starting…
Read one of this two Poe’s stories:
•
•
The Tell-Tale Heart
http://poestories.com/read/telltaleheart
The Black Cat
http://poestories.com/read/blackcat

6. Exercise
Choose an unfortunate event that took place this year
and write a short story about it as a big tragedy (200
words). It can be written in third person.
Illustrate your feelings related to that specific moment
using two techniques of those seen in class (pen,
collage, watercolor or ink).
Accompany the text also with your picture in a
dramatic position (like the symbolist artists portraits).
Deadline: March 6th, 8am.

7. Evaluation
The composition and harmony between the text, your
picture and the illustration.
Everything must be placed in the same double page or A3
format (28 cm x 43 cm).
The text must be in English and done on computer, while
the illustration must be the original.
The work must be explained in class, the same day of the
deadline.
Good use of techniques (at least two of those seen in class)
Punctuality and clarity of the ideas.

8. Good luck…