Abstract The author of this paper examines how Edgard Allan Poe's own life's obstacles influenced and inspired the writing of "The Masque of the Red Death." One specific source of inspiration involves Poe's foster father, John Allan, ignoring Poe's pleas for help in assisting his wife, who was ill with tuberculosis. In the story, the audacity of Prince Prospero holding a ball while the outside world dies can be taken as a symbol that reflects John Allan ignoring Poe's many pleas for assistance. There is no compassion in the prince just as John Allan felt no compassion for Poe. "The Masque of the Red Death" is Edgar Allan Poe's literary way of exposing the truly wicked ways of his enemies and visiting upon them the most horrible punishment he can imagine to serve them justice for their crimes.
From the Paper "Edgar had never forgiven John Allan and despised everything that he had and Edgar did not. This hatred extended from solely John Allan to any wealthy person who was not willing to help or at least acknowledge his own genius. Nathanial Hawthorne was one such person who was so fascinated with Edgar's tales that he took the time to write him a rather cordial letter expressing his admiration for his earnest criticism and writing ability. On the other hand Edgar felt very slighted and unappreciated compared to many of his literary peers. "He could not stand to see other writers, such as Henry Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson and James Russell Lowell, earn more praise and money than he did" (Streissguth 79). Aristocracy seemed to hold Edgar down and when examining "The Masque of the Red Death" we see the revenge that he would wish extracted upon them. Prince Prospero is the embodiment of John Allan and all other men who possessed wealth, but refused to come to his aid. It is possible that Edgar desired the very pestilence that had haunted him for so many years to go forth and destroy those who never knew want or suffered from financial trouble. What better way to see his enemies destroyed than by the disease he was most familiar with?"
Abstract This paper examines some of the contributions of Edgar Allan Poe's only novel, "Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket". It examines in particular the ways in which Poe approaches the foreign and the different, in this work as well as adjacent works. It analyzes the introduction of the strong and sometimes hidden elements of horror in Poe's works.
From the Paper "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838) is the only novel written by Edgar Allan Poe, and yet despite this singularity it is in fundamental ways connected to the rest of his body of work as well as to other important works of 19th century American fiction. This paper examines some of the contributions of this novel, examining in particular the ways in which Poe approaches the foreign and the different ? a concept that was in many ways (some explicit, some deeply encoded) a proxy for race in both the work in question and that of other works adjacent in time and theme to Poe's novel, especially that of Herman Melville's Moby Dick (1851)."
Abstract Metaphors not only can be used as literal interpretation of events, but also have metaphorical meanings. A good example would be the black cat in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" and how the narrator in the story implied throughout the story that the cat is of demonic creature. The black cat in the short story not only has a literal meaning of a normal household cat but also from a metaphorical-side of meaning, as the narrator's personal demon, which haunts him throughout the story and brings him to the point of near insanity.
From the Paper "The first mention of the black cat in the short story is when the narrator's wife noticed his partiality for domestic pets and "lost no opportunity of procuring those of the most agreeable kind" (894), which includes a black cat. In the beginning, the narrator describes the cat as a "large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to a degree" (894). When he describes the cat in this way, the narrator gave us his view of the cat as an everyday, normal household cat that people who have had an encounter with cats can feel a real connection to. Even though some people might have the superstitious belief that an entirely black cat might be a minion of the underworld or a witch in disguise which his wife did when she "made frequent allusions to the ancient popular notion" (894), the narrator tries his best to also show that this is a normal cat like any other. The narrator also gives the pet the name of Pluto, which is the name for the god of the underworld in Roman mythology. By doing this, he further connects the black cat of his to something from the underworld. He also calls what he sees when he went back to check out the ruins of his house that burned down as an apparition (895) and a "phantasm of the cat" (896). An apparition is a ghost or spirit and by following what the narrator describes, his view of the black cat goes from a normal household pet to something that haunts him for months. The loss of the cat not only brought him remorse at what he did to the cat when he hung it on a rope but also regret at the loss of a fine pet."
Abstract This paper reviews the work of Edgar Allan Poe, one of America's legendary elite, in particular it examines how his literature is very much diverse and his psychology unique. It examines how his work often centers upon interior crises where the human mind is under assault and its primary nemesis is itself. Through a review of the stories "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The IMP of the Perverse" and the "The Cask of Amontillado", it discusses how, with sufficient evidence of human destruction, Poe challenges the human mind with an efficient philosophy and meaningful psychology.
From the Paper "In "The Tell-Tale Heart" we find a perfect example of Poe's psychological complexity in action. One author writes, "This trademark horror tale shows Poe at the height of his imaginative and artistic powers, with its boldly original story line, exquisitely rendered form, and psychological complexity" (Nesbitt 239). While reading the story we find a nameless narrator reminiscing on how he actually formulated the idea of killing an elderly man. In addition, we know that there is no real objective of the killer other than the old man's annoying eye, which to the narrator is symbolic of a predator."
Abstract This paper looks at Edgar Allan Poe, his life and his work, and how they were affected by alcoholism. It looks at how the theme of alcoholism crept into his stories by having alcoholics as characters, or characters descending into madness from drinking. It shows that despite his drinking problems, Poe produced masterpieces that have world wide acclaim and are still high on the reading list of mystery lovers today.
This paper is a comparison and contrast of Edgar Allan Poe's two styles of writing: the gothic genre of Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" and the detective genre of "The Purloined Letter."
Abstract This paper is a comparison and contrast of Edgar Allan Poe's two styles of writing: the gothic genre of Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" and the detective genre of "The Purloined Letter". The paper includes topics such as diction and the ease or difficulty in the ability to read and comprehend Poe's stories.
From the Paper "Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most well known names in literature. He was a short story writer, a poet, a literary critic, a journalist, an editor, an essayist and novelist. Edgar Allen Poe virtually created the detective story genre and perfected the psychological thriller. Poe is celebrated as one of America's greatest writers of short stories but his first published works were poems. Arguably, the most prominent feature of Edgar Allen Poe's writing is his obsession with death."
Abstract This paper is a biography of the great poet Edgar Allan Poe. The author discusses some of his best work and examines the way his life impacted his writing.
From the paper:
"Some people always look at the bad side of things instead of the good side. This is called pessimism. Edgar Allan Poe could be recognized as the king of pessimism. He is known for his tales of the mysterious and macabre. His dark and twisted works are filled with pessimism. Poe was a person who had faced many troubling experiences throughout his life. To escape from his saddened world, Poe drank and wrote short stories and poems with a pessimistic outlook."
Abstract This paper explores the works of Edgar Allan Poe,by looking at the man behind the book. The author specifically centers on the two most famous works of Poe, "Tell- Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat" by examining the attitudes of the characters and how they are portrayed and what message the books are trying to give.The author concludes that with the similarities and differences between these two main works of Edgar Allan Poe, it is easy to see why Poe is considered one of the most controversial writers of all time and why has been criticized and also had much honor.
From the Paper "The task of the narrator begins with careful planning, but in the end his guilty conscience creates his downfall. For seven days, the narrator watches the old man while he sleeps. The narrator's comments show his confidence and courage in his plan to kill: "Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers - of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph" (Poe 810). The narrator's comfort in his evil act continued even when the police came to check on the old man and investigate the loud noises neighbors heard the night before: "I smiled,-for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome" (Poe 813). However, the narrator's mind is quickly consumed with guilt, which creates his figment of the imagination of hearing the old man's heartbeat from under the flooring."
Abstract This paper examines the importance of the setting in the book, "The Oblong Box", by Edgar Allan Poe. The paper first explains that when considering the settings in any story, it is important to consider the geographical location, the time, weather conditions, social conditions, and the mood. The paper then looks at how all of these parts of the setting play an important role in the story written by Edgar Allan Poe. The paper also points out that time of the story is important because it helps to build the suspense of the story as time (in the short story) is delayed without explanation.
From the Paper "First, consider the place where the story takes place. The place is the packet-ship called, Independence. Poe tells how the ship would have many passengers and one of the passengers is a man called Mr. Cornelius Wyatt who is an artist and having been a fellow-student with him at the C--- University. This is an important part of the setting that will lead the story from one point to another as the narrator tries to find out why Wyatt is not friendly and even to the death of Wyatt in the last section of the story. Included in the setting is the fact that Mr. Wyatt having three state rooms with these rooms being roomy."
Abstract The paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the writer Edgar Allan Poe. The paper specifically discusses how his writings are dark and filled with death. From a very early age, Edgar Allan Poe seems to have been obsessed with the topic of death, and many (or most) of his works are dark, brooding pieces filled with mystery, dark deeds, and the death of at least one character, or the lingering theme of death. The paper questions why Poe was so consumed with death and dying.
From the Paper " He writes, "He also offered his famous pronouncement that 'the death of a beautiful woman is the purest of all poetical themes'". Thus, Poe recognized this theme recurred in his works, and found it both satisfying and pure, elements of his fiction that might not seem satisfying and pure to others. After losing his parents and living in a foster home, Poe met Mrs. Jane Stith Stanard, who he became very fond of, and many people believe he loved. He wrote the poem "To Helen" to her, but her life ended tragically, as well. An early Poe biographer writes, "Mrs. Stanard soon went mad and died. "
Abstract A look at the structure and use of writing style in "The Mask of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe. Poe uses contrasting descriptions that work in conjunction with the literary elements to produce a dramatic impact. His use of contrasts helps tie the elements together and produces a powerful effect.
From the Paper "The Mask of the Red Death" is a fiction story with a structure strongly supported by literary elements, including tone, plot, symbols, characterization, and setting. The detailed description of the setting plays a key role in the structural development and helps the reader picture the sequence of events vividly. The plot is critical to the structure, as it unravels gradually, and the symbols and the tone complement it with strong detailed contrasts.
Abstract The author of this paper sets out to prove that Edgar Allan Poe did not ascribe to Freud's theory that man has an unconscious desire to die, despite his preoccupation with death in his poems. By elaborating on Freud's theory, the author shows how Poe did not desire death but instead sought a change of condition from sorrow to joy.
From the Paper "Poe's overwhelming desire for release from suffering, even temporarily, is as great as his overwhelming anguish and loneliness. But he continues to reject death by rejecting the Raven which symbolizes and portends it. And even in the unconscious state, he is inclined towards former joy in the company of Lenore rather than towards a voiding of that joy in the voiding of life in or through death. Hence, Freud's assumption on a death wish fails."
Abstract This paper examines the mysterious visitor who pays tribute to Edgar Allan Poe at his grave in Westminster Churchyard in Baltimore, Maryland.
From the Paper "Within the weathered brick walls of Westminster Churchyard, at the corner of Fayette and Greene Streets in Baltimore, Maryland, a cold marble shrine marks the final resting place of a tormented soul. 1 In life, he was haunted by torturing memories--memories of wrong and injustice and imputed dishonor and from a sense of some strange, impending doom. In death, his memory endures in the hearts of those who still honor his great literary genius as a poet who eternally searched for supernal beauty in a world filled with poverty and abandonment and produced some of the world's finest tales of the macabre and the supernatural"".
Abstract The paper recounts the life of the author Edgar Allan Poe from birth to death and shows how there are constant references to his life experiences in most of his poems and short stories. It also discusses the impact of Poe's writings on world of literature.
From the Paper "The darkness of Poe's feelings can be seen as part of his character. However, a look at the difficulty of his young life makes it hard not to assume that this has also had a major impact. Poe was orphaned at the age of three and then was seemingly abandoned by his foster father in 1826 at the age of 17. His lack of hope after these events is expressed in his 1827 poem "Dreams": ?In my young boyhood - should it thus be given, / "T were folly still to hope for higher Heaven / ... / And loveliness, - have left my very heart / In climes of mine imagining, apart / from mine own home" (Poe The Raven 2). This poem was written the year Poe left home after his falling out with John Allan and expresses his feelings about this. "
Tags: england, u.s., languages, west, point, horror, macabre, terror
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the works of the authors Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville. It is shown how their work is similar in that both write about characters reaching the end of their self-control in the face of forces greater than themselves, and both authors use psychological insight to develop those characters. Differences include their descriptive methods and that Poe writes about subject matter considered more macabre, while Melville writes about spiritual failures and conflicts with a more profound sense of the spiritual strengths of the universe. The author compares their styles and work, by looking at Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Melville's short story "Billy Budd."
From the Paper ""The Tell-Tale Heart" is a first-person narrative, while "Billy Budd" is a third-person narrative in the omniscient voice of the author. The narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart" commits a murder, and while it is evident that this event takes place in the real world, it is not clear whether the beating heart he hears after this is a supernatural phenomenon or a manifestation of guilt taking place only in his mind. The narrator speaks directly to the reader in this story and explains his actions after the fact, and he begins by trying to put the reader's mind at rest about his sanity. The man says he is not insane, though there is no reason to take his word for this matter one way or the other. Indeed, the very manner in which the man declares his sanity raises questions about it:"
