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 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 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 presents an overview of the poetic relationship between the Edgar Allen Poe and his brother, Henry, and how that is reflected in Edgar Poe's poetry.
From the Paper In late October of 1829, Edgar Poe wrote one of his most revealing letters to his friend and confidant John Neal, editor of the Yankee magazine of Portland, Maine, in which he declares "there can be no tie more strong than that of brother for brother. . . their affections are always running in the same direction"the same channel and cannot help mingling.? These "affections" generally concern the familial ties of Henry and Edgar Poe, but a deeper interpretation lies within the kinship associated with their poetry composed between 1827 and 1831, a consociation infused with states of extreme melancholy, a fascination with the dead and lucid dreaming which conveys ?a collaborative attempt to give their kindred feelings a single voice.?
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 is a biographical overview of J. Edgar Hoover and his role as director of the FBI. The author details his five decades of reform, power and how he abused it. The paper also examines his controversial personality and lifestyle.
From the paper:
"The life and legacy of J. Edgar Hoover is a subject of countless books, files and theories. Rumors surrounding this man run rampant. He single-handedly created the FBI we know today, but through a scheme of illegal and amoral activities. Hoover was the most effective and powerful director of the FBI, from 1924 to 1972. He created the FBI as a separate and distinct faction of the Department of Justice, and garnered public support for his activities. He fought communism, espionage, foreign sabotage, and organized crime. Ruthless in his ways, cunning in his schemes, Hoover's influence on past and current laws and enforcement goes unchecked and unmatched by any other."
A review of the theme of darkness in the novels "The Fall of the House of Usher", and "The Pit and the Pendulum" and the poem "For Annie" by Edgar Allen Poe.
2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 13 sources, 2002, $ 89.95
Abstract This paper explores two stories by Edgar Allen Poe, "The Fall of the House of Usher", and "The Pit and the Pendulum". These stories are considered in relation to a poem Poe wrote called, "For Annie", a verse written for a friend of his, Annie Richmond. The theme of this paper is about "darkness," where darkness is a metaphor that imbues Poe's horror stories with themes of consciousness and experiences with terror. Because Poe was especially interested in the susceptibility of the imagination, this paper attempts to "imagine" Edgar Allen Poe in relation to varying metaphors of darkness that characterize the author's life and literature.
Abstract This paper examines how, since his death, there have been two different people with the name of Edgar Allen Poe. It looks at how many readers now believe Edgar Allan Poe was a drunkard and a drug addict who suffered from insanity. This paper points out why and how Poe's reputation was desecrated after his death and looks into both the falsehoods and truths of his life.
From the Paper "Griswold and Poe became acquainted in 1841 in connection to an anthology of poetry on which Griswold was working. Poe had given him some advice in regards to poets and works that he felt should be included in the book, but Griswold disregarded Poe's advice. After the book was published, Poe, who was a critic, stated in a review that some of the poets who made their appearance were "too mediocre to entitle them to particular notice". Still, overall the review was a good one, but the negative comment angered Griswold. When a later review that was highly negative of both the book and Griswold's talents was published anonymously, he assumed that Poe was responsible for that review."
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 The paper discusses themes employed by Edgar Allan Poe, such as reincarnation, perversity and retribution and/or revenge. The paper shows how Poe was fascinated with the mysterious and the macabre and knew about human psychology. The paper conveys the descriptive narration in "The Black Cat" and "The Masque of the Red Death". The paper discusses how these two tales represent the genius of Edgar Allan Poe as a writer and master of the supernatural, the strange and the bizarre.
From the Paper "The Black Cat" appears to contain a number of themes that fascinated its author Edgar Allan Poe, such as reincarnation, perversity (i.e. a form of weirdness) and retribution and/or revenge. In the tale itself, Poe mentions that the main protagonist (an unnamed narrator) has experienced "a series of mere household events" that have "tortured" and destroyed him (234), due to having Pluto, a black cat, as a pet, a most beautiful animal, coal-black all over, taken in by the narrator and his wife. This unknown narrator, perhaps Poe himself, seems to have a serious problem with alcohol, for he states that at times he is driven insane with drink and ends up doing things that go against his morals. He calls alcohol "the Fiend Intemperance" which means that alcohol, at least for the narrator, is like a fiend or a demon that attacks the mind and leads to utter destruction."
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.
