Abstract This paper focuses on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Mystery of Marie Roget", which are among the first modern detective mystery stories. The paper shows how Poe introduced the idea of a fictional detective investigating a real-life unsolved murder and compares the beginnings of both stories. The paper highlights Poe's literary devices in both works, which include the depiction of police as incompetent and self-serving, his use of newspapers to narrate the story, and his use of the gothic genre. The suggestion is made that some of these similarities between the two works may be the result of being written so close together, since "The Purloined Letter", which was written several years afterwards, is a very different detective story.
From the Paper "Mystery or detective stories form an increasingly popular genre: from novels about pathologists, private eyes and police detectives, to eccentrics like Nero Wolfe; and from the hard-boiled, and unwilling detective Easy Rawlins to the old-fashioned English settings of Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple, there is a story and a genre to satisfy anyway. For over a hundred and fifty years, the detective fiction has kept generations of readers entertained, and the person credited with introducing the detective to modern fiction is Edgar Allen Poe."
Abstract This paper examines the similarities and differences in Camus'
"The Stranger" and Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment", with specific reference to the murder that takes place in each book. Camus' murder is an examination of existentialism and an expression of the futility of believing that there is meaning in any act. Dostoevsky's murder is an expression of the senselessness of the ruling school of thought in the 19th century Russia. While each novel centers on a murder, they differ entirely as to the point and reason for each.
Abstract This paper discusses how Edgar Allan Poe led a bizarre and tormented life that undoubtedly influenced his writings, which revealed dark aspects of his nature. His writings, specifically "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado" are examined in this paper as examples of his form of writing. The writer shows how many scholars make connections between Poe and psychoanalysis in these two ways: how his work reveals himself, and how his work says something about the workings of the mind of the murderer. Included are specific examples from the two aforementioned stories that illustrate these points.
From the Paper "Edgar Allan Poe was without a doubt a man who lead an unusual life filled with horror. The fact that his writings were often also filled with horror and indeed at the very least, a dark imagination, has lead many scholars and psychoanalysts to ruminate at the connection between Poe's real life and his fictional writings. For example, it was said that Poe had a fear of being buried alive and so this scenario reared its ugly head many times throughout his literature, and many scholars have attempted to compare Poe to his invented characters (A few). These kinds of connections are what psychoanalysts would be interested in, for psychoanalysis is defined as the theory that abnormal mental functioning and psychopathology originate in cause from unconscious psychological forces (Comer, 15). The "Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado" are two short stories of Poe's which illustrate some of the common musings over the connection between Poe and psychoanalysis."
Abstract This paper examines how the themes of death and horror are explicitly expressed in Poe's story, "The Cask of Amontillado" and how, similarly, artistic expression of the same themes is illustrated in his poems, "The Bells" and ?The Haunted Palace.? The author posits that, in these literary works, the themes of death and horror are contained, and what makes these works distinct from Poe's other works is that it represents two symbols of "truths" about human nature. It looks at how the theme of horror is illustrated by the protagonist's or Voice's (in the case of the poems) descent towards insanity, while the theme of death is best represented by the commitment of murder or simply a depiction of the individual's effort to conceal or escape his insanity through death.
From the Paper "His mastery of the horror and mystery genre allowed Poe to create literary works that have, interestingly, symbolically represented the fears of humanity?tales and poems of horror that depict death, nightmares, and ultimately, the descent towards insanity, an outright escape from the realities of the world. Indeed, the correlation between death and horror is embedded in almost every tale and poem Poe creates for his audience. Ultimately, horror is presented as a precursor to death, a progression from the self-realization about the truth of the nature of one's self towards seeking refuge in death in order to escape this ?truth.?"
Abstract This paper discusses how Poe as a writer dwelt much in the madness and morbidity of man and how he enjoyed writing about loss, pain and lies, as these were the emotions with which he was most familiar. In particular, the paper looks at "The Black Cat", which tells of a man driven to murder by his unexplainable hatred for his pet black cat. In the dark recesses of his twisted mind, he found relief in the gruesome passing of his wife with the loss of his reviled pet. The paper also looks at "The Masque of the Red Death", which tells of a plague that has purged the world and murdered everything in its path, killing without qualm and pity, not distinguishing between race, age, gender or social status.
From the Paper "In both stories, man's darkest nature was revealed. First is that selfishness runs deep in our veins. Prince Prospero paid no attention to the devastation brought by the Red Death outside his castle walls. As long as he had everything his heart desired inside, he felt safe and secured from the fate of a terrible death in the hands of an unrelenting plague. This thinking is foolish at best, for no one can escape Death. Death cannot be stopped by walls, doors or barricades. This lesson was learned the hard way by Prince Prospero and his dominions."
Abstract This paper discusses Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel, "Crime and Punishment," claiming it to be a critique of the super-rationalism of the 18th century Enlightenment, particularly the philosophies of J.S. Mill and Rousseau. The focus of this paper is Dostoevsky's use of Raskolnikov to expose fundamental flaws in Mill's utilitarianism and Rousseau's concept of natural man. The paper examines how he does this by using Raskolnikov as a representation of a typical psyche and by relying on an intuitive argument to show the inability of these philosophies to reflect empirical evidence.
From the Paper "The character of Raskolnikov exposes flaws in Mill's utilitarianism and Rousseauvian philosophy. Dostoevsky's philosophy is unique and radically different from the prevailing ideas of eighteenth century enlightenment because of its reliance on the existence of certain truths common to the psyche of man, instead of a focus on rationality, coupled with the exclusion of other psychological elements. Raskolnikov's two major conflicts are between the rational and emotional portions of his personality and, stemming from this, his tendency to both lament and perpetuate his separation from society. His inability to reconcile these opposing facets of his being results in the great imbalance in his life."
This paper examines two short stories: "The Murders at the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allen Poe and "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
675 words (approx. 2.7 pages), 2 sources, 2005, $ 26.95
Abstract This paper explains that light and darkness are key focal points in learning the source and origins of the murders in these two short stories. The author points out that, by taking a logical and more scientific approach to diminishing superstition and hearsay, both of these authors offer an intelligible solution to the crimes they confronted in the 19th century. The paper relates that both Doyle and Poe use the almost gothic landscape of the English Moors to reflect the sinister evil of their plots.
From the Paper "This literary study examines the use of light and darkness that Edgar Allen Poe and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle use to solve various crimes in their short stories. By comparing the use of light and darkness within "The Murders at the Rue Morgue" by Poe and "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Doyle, one can understand how logic and pseudo-science deduce the perpetrators of these crimes. In the short story "The Hound of the Baskervilles" we can learn how darkness and light are effective ways for the main perpetrator of the murders is revealed. Doyle, like Poe, uses the almost gothic landscape of the English Moors to reflect the sinister evil that the Hound presents in this tale, but ultimately the darkness is merely a cloak for a more logical explanation to the murders."
Abstract This essay compares and contrasts two of Edgar Allen Poe's frightening and haunting tales, "The Tell Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado". The author also cites parallels between the stories and Poe's dark life. The paper analyzes Poe's imagery and effective narrative style.
From the paper:
"Best known for his poems and short fiction, Edgar Allan Poe deserves more credit than any other writer for the transformation of the short story from anecdote to art. He virtually created the detective story and perfected the psychological thriller" (Anonymous Edgar Allan PoePOE.HTM). All of Edgar Alan Poe's work is known for its use of all elements of writing in portraying incredible stories that often haunt the reader. He was skilled in every aspect of writing it seems, especially in relationship to anything that was slightly obscure or eerie, which are also elements of the writer himself. His stories "The Tell Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado" are no exceptions to these conditions or realities."
Abstract This paper suggests that madness and its consequences is a major theme found in many of Edgar Allan Poe's stories. It also suggests that this theme is related to man's fascination with death, and, in a larger sense, with the broader theme of man's inhumanity to man. Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" is used throughout the paper to demonstrate these themes . The paper also discusses the role of the narrator in Poe's works and how the reader is supposed to respond to the narrator.
From the Paper "In the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator shows his inhumanity to the old man by murdering him. However, the old man is also depicted as taking an inhuman delight in tormenting the younger man over the years. When the young man hears the beating heart after the murder, that heart is a reminder to him that he has taken a life, that he has treated the old man not as a human being but as an obstacle to be removed. The narrator tells his own story and allows the reader into his mind, which only adds to the uncertainty as to whether the heart is a real sound or an imagined one. The policemen do not hear it, of course, while the young man is tormented by it, much as he tormented the old man in killing him."
Abstract The paper discusses Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from the Underground" and his concern that if science is used as the only tool to discover meaning and lay blame, then human emotion and free will will no longer exist. The paper explains how Dostoevsky worries about the loss of responsibility for one's actions, which would eventually allows people to legitimately act with cruelty. The paper also shows how his words foreshadow the times that would come, when the German "scientific" culture would convince millions to take the lives of innocents in WWII.
From the Paper "Dostoevsky, lived in a time when science and new ideas were coveted all over the world, but when his homeland Russia oppressed it with zeal. Bureaucracy and administration censored new findings and ideas with a vengeance so great even great literary minds such as Dostoevsky would spend some time in exile in Siberia as a result of "subversive" wittings and political affiliations. Though Dostoevsky was initially sentenced to death, with several of his affiliation members, his sentence was commuted to four years of exile in Siberia, only after he and his fellow liberals were standing outside for some time awaiting execution. (Dostoevsky vii)"
Abstract This paper explains that the father of the detective fiction, Edgar Allan Poe, provided the detective story model for nineteenth-century British novelist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation of one of the world's most famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The author reviews Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", "The Mystery of Marie Roget" and "The Purloined Letter" to illustrate the ways in which amateur sleuth Auguste Dupin was the pattern upon which Doyle created Holmes. The paper uses textual analysis and historical evidence to reveal that Doyle borrowed from Poe the logical method, the details of personal habits and personality and the narrator who purports to present the exploits of his brainy, withdrawn friend to the public.
From the Paper "Holmes is also influenced by Dupin and his peculiar attachment to a loyal companion who serves to document the successes of his brilliant mentor. Like Dupin's associate, Watson plays the part of the straight man in Doyle's tale. He essentially an observer whose sole purpose is to offer fumbling assistance to the detective, typically by way of inaccurate observations, suppositions, and conclusions that Holmes then corrects. It becomes very obvious that Doyle patterned the ineffectual and lovable Watson, directly after Dupin's friend."
Tags: genre model eccentric method, fumbling police
Abstract This paper reviews Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart", analyzing the character the Mad Man and the style of writing used by Poe to best portray this character. The utilization of the Mad Man's voice, allowing him to project his state of mind and feelings, makes this short story a remarkable piece of literature.
From the Paper "In this paper, the main argument presented is that Poe's writing style is crafted in such a way wherein the Madman tries to project that he still thinks rationally and reasonably, while at the same time betraying himself by talking about his feelings towards the old man's blue eye. Combining both the Mad Man's rational narrative and emotional preoccupation with the old man's old eye, it can be said that Poe, in the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart," has shown madness in the point of view of the Mad Man. That is, as he succumbs to insanity, rational thought and emotional preoccupations remained in conflict with each other, later resulting to his breakdown in front of the authorities. Thus, this paper's organization is based on these two themes: one highlighting the Mad Man's rational thoughts, and the other, centering on his emotional instability."
Abstract The paper offers an examination of Edgar Allan Poe that provides a brief biography of the writer. The paper then discusses the often conflicted psyche of his narrators whose irrationality often results in behavior that is not beneficial to them.
From the Paper "Edgar Allan Poe: Introduction. A writer of novels, short stories, reviews, poetry and other works, Edgar Allan Poe was born in January and died in October. Despite his premature death, Poe is considered one of the greatest writers of all time. His parents were actors who died when he was a young boy, leaving Poe to live with a merchant named John Allan from who Poe took his middle name."
Tags: sensory imagery, alcoholism, drug use, superstition, murder, revenge, suspense
Abstract This paper reviews and discusses the short story, 'The Black Cat' by Edgar Allen Poe. According to the paper, Poe is one of the masters of horror fiction and his story, 'The Black Cat', is intended both to shock as well as educate. According to the paper, the central theme of this story is that the real nature of true horror and terror does not necessarily exist outside of ourselves or in the dark night, but can exist within the human heart.
From the Paper "Throughout the story there is a comparison between two aspects of human nature. These two aspects however are seen to exist within the same human being. On the one hand we see that the main character is originally a good and kind man but that his nature changes radically for the worse. While alcohol is suggested as the catalyst for this change, the story also makes it clear that the transformation of the man for good to bad is a result of something more than just drinking. "
Abstract This paper examines the personal and historical context of Edgar Allan Poe's work. It focuses in on Poe's handling of human nature in three stories: "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Tale-Tell Heart," and "The Black Cat," and the poem, "The Raven."
From the Paper "Edgar Allan Poe is known as the writer of ghost stories .And while it's certainly true that many of his tales have the requisite elements of ghost stories, ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night, they are much more than simply attempt to .."
