Edgar Allen Poe-influences

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Did the writer's poetry reflect the life he led?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

Answers

Yes, but as an emotional springboard to producing a work of art. In order to cpompare his passion with his aesthetic you really have to study his life. It is sometimes curiously hard to get a handle on. Subject matter like "Annabel Lee" or "The Raven" present a story that might recall something of Poe's experience in a gothic or romantic genre. Poe has been accused of being cold and impersonal and at the same time of portraying deep feeling and passion. I think a good illustration would be to compare Longfellow's poem on the horrendous death of his first wife and Poe's "Annabel Lee." Though the former directly recalls the personal tragedy it somehow pales embarassingly before the wild lament of Poe's story ballad.

This irritates some people looking for "genuine" poetry and confessionals, to find the better art is a passion in itself. Virginia Poe's own little poem about domestic happiness is direct and honest. For some people it does not seem fair that the egocentric symbolism of the masterful Poe is simply not just better poetics, but more profoundly moving on planes of their own making.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002


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