With this month that hosts Halloween nearing its conclusion, the “Master of Macabre” – Edgar Allan Poe – gets a nod from American Literature I students at Meridian Community College.

 “I knew I wanted to do an Edgar Allan Poe celebration for the month of October in my American Lit I class, so I started looking for ideas that were not run-of-the-mill presentations that so many of the students have done,” said Lisa Rhodes, chairman of the college’s Language and Literature division and English instructor.

After brainstorming, she settled on an idea. “Students had the option of the art projects, making a movie, ‘teaching’ a Poe story that we did not cover in class, or doing a multi-genre research project,” she said.

The students’ endeavors are as entertaining as their muse. Along with the class presentations, several students created art projects that are on display in the library and Smith Hall.

As they were putting on their finishing touches on their project to illustrate Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, MCC sophomores Briann Benson, 20, of Columbus and Hannah Heustess, 19, of Biloxi said they enjoyed learning about Poe’s style in this Gothic tale. “We loved the creepiness and the plot,” said Benson. “It’s my favorite one we’ve read in class.”

Their project – produced in a small scale – reveals a spooky-looking house, dreary landscape – and a skeleton filled mini casket that can be seen under the table where the house rests.

Rhodes said she’s proud of her students’ creativity. “I have been so impressed with all of the projects.” She also kiddingly cautions viewers, too: “While it is an outstanding tribute to one of our greatest American authors, it is super scary! Enjoy!”