I have to do a report for my 4th quarter final assesment project and would like to know what Edgar Allan Poe's most used literary element in most of his work so I can use it to tie together a bunch of works by him for a final solution and essay.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2002

Answers

Yeow. of course that depends on just what a literary element is. I would say, because of the reduction of all words, in type, length and setting that it would be the weaving of all elements into an organic unity, with a tendency(except for philosophical digressions to guide the sensations)to create a single overriding effect. The ideas themselves, though well articulated operate just like the sounds, sights, plot and characterizations in a symbolic fashion. This goes for poetry and tales. In his essays Poe too seems to go for an emotional jugular no matter how brilliant the content. Humor, science, puzzles tease argue and provoke an emotional response. Without that, I suppose Poe would say, a didactic piece lacks life and power.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2002