What are three points I could put in my research paper that has to do with Poe's facination with death?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : The Work of Edgar Allan Poe : One Thread

I am writing a research paper on Poe and his ficsation of death. I was wondering what three points I could us for my outline.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2000

Answers

If you're too stupid to figure out your own points for your research paper, you had better just give up-all you have to do is read his poems!

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2000

John,

First and foremost, you might use the fact that Poe had no fascination with death. If anything, he recognized it as simply the inescapable and ultimate conclusion of existence. While he may have been fascinated by many subjects, I do not believe death, of itself, held his undivided attention as your question infers. There is no question that he used it often as a literary device and as an element of his tales of fantasy. What horror tale would be without it?

Some of the subjects he did find fascinating were human behavior, science, cryptography, ratiocination and mesmerism. I believe he once said that he was sorely disappointed that in the 6,000 years of man's existence, that man could not really demonstrate a higher intellect or happiness. In spite of our technological achievements, things haven't changed much in the 150 years since his time either.

He also wrote often of the perverse nature in man to do those things that he should not for no other reason than that he should not. See his tales "Never Bet the Devil Your Head" and "The Imp of the Perverse".

Regards,

-- Anonymous, May 07, 2000


Moderation questions? read the FAQ