What exactly made Edger a gothic writer?

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2003

Answers

I believe that with the past experiences with death mixed with his drinking problem lead him to express his feelings on what he really thought about life, love and death.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2003

Gothic fiction was in its hayday as was the Romantic movement, well under way. Poe was not in thrall to that genre. "How to write a Blackwood Article" "Premature Burial" etc. show a lot of tongue in cheek approach to its popularity. Personally he was suited toi these times by dint of his isolation in his childhood, his education and apartness in England and his personal fascination(obsession?) with the experience of shock and disorientation itself as the sole power within the gap between this life and the Ideal. Interestingly, look hard and you will find few clear examples of supernatural stock in trade, symbolism and vagueness replacing both spooks and German Gothic hyperbole. Poe had an admirable habit of reining in on similes and letting the emotions and environment interact in their most reduced and powerful ways.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2003

i think that he is just a extremly misunder stood guy and that it does not help that his dad left him wen he was very young and expresses himself though his stories and poetry!!!!!

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2003

First - it's EdgAr not Edger. There may not be any single thing that "caused" Poe to be attracted to the genre. He was brought up in a wealthy home and Mrs. Allen attempted to offer him the best available education. He was a Southern Gentleman, after all. He was no doubt well versed in the literary classics (evidenced by allusions in his works) and no doubt, he had been exposed to the growing interest in the "dark side" seen in current (in his day) European writings. As an interest develops, his talent was applied.

Of course, as far as content, one can not help but assume that the deaths of those he loved most affected his outlook. It was almost as if he were cursed - if he were to love anyone too deeply, especially a female, she would most surely die. In cases like his, any psychologist worth his or her paycheck will report that self- blame is often a step in the grieving process. Several of his works - Anabelle Lee, The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death - are admitedly personal. They may have served as psychological release and therapy. No wonder they are 'dark.' They

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2004