Critical Analysis on Edgar Allan Poe

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I am doing a critical analysis on Poe. My thesis statement is based on the dark and difficult themes in Poe's writings. I need help finding fear as a themem in Poe's work (*need examples from poems) and Poe's use of horror (*also need examples).

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Answers

Poems: The Raven is a good way of using fear as a theme... it's self explanatory if you just read it... Other stuff, I can't remember off the top of my head...

Horror: The Pit and the Pendulum - perfect example of horror as suspense... throughout the story, it repeats itself over and over... The candles, as he's passing out, seem to symbolize empty hope. The darkness is part of the horror after he realizes that he almost descended into the pit. The pit is a constant reminder that it's the worst way he can die. Upon the realization of the pendulum's descent, the narrator swoons and wakes up a little later... The walls caving in, another example of horror, as he doesn't want to fall into the pit; however, he doesn't want his flesh burned off either...

More horror, you ask? What about the Masque of the Red Death, (which I only vaguely remember) where he uses the clock to symbolize something... and the black plague for something... I hope that helped... try the black cat as well, and the cask of amontillado, and I think that should get you started...

God bless

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002


A prevalent theme in Poe's works is the theme of revenge...this theme is very clear in the short story "The Cask of Amontillado". Most any story that you read will compare with his other short stories. Other themes to look for are themes of insanity and a premature death or suffacation I hope I helped a little!

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Edgar Allan Poe did not wish to be interpreted by anyone. As far as I am concerned all of you are just pulling stuff out of the air about him. All of the information about him that we know is what is in his writings. Just because he writes a certain way does not mean it is a stereotype that states he is deep and dark. I think we should concentrate more on the fact that he was a great writer, rather than the fact that he was a misunderstood human being, again stereotype.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2003

Actually, Ellie, there is a great deal that we, the educated community, understand about Poe's life and works. He himself was a critic by profession and in such criticisms of others' works we find his analysis of his own works; if only in that we can infer what he meant by how he believes others should write or refer to. We also understand a great of his life and his marriage to his young wife was a definate turning point in his life, literary as well as not.

As for a theme on darkness or death, a discussion of the non-chalant attitude of the nararators towards the gruesome acts themselves.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2003


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