Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809 during his life he was one of the most celebrated writers of dark poetry and fiction. He has a unique style of Gothicism in his narratives. Poe's works haunt the mind and thrill the body. His story lines have left chills up readers' spines for so many years, and he creates atmospheres that only a vampire would be comfortable in. The work of Edgar Allan Poe has many themes and literary devices including setting, symbolism, and importantly imagery.
Although imagery and symbolism are very important for Poe's gothic style, his use of setting impacts his writing better than the other elements Poe provides in his writing. Poe describes his setting in great detail. In the short story "The Masque of the Red Death", Poe begins with the description of the "Red Death" and says: "there were seven—an imperial suite. In many places, however, such suites form a long and straight vista, while the folding doors slide back nearly to the walls on either hand, so that the view of the hole extent is scarcely impeded (358)." Poe provides a creepy, but interesting setting in "The Raven" when he describes the setting: "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore"(370) Poe introduces his poems in a dark, spooky kind of mood which adds an interesting feel to it.
The setting Poe uses in "The Black Cat" is that the story opens in a cell of a prisoner the day before he is to be executed by hanging. Poe has a dark setting in "The Tell-Tale Heart" because it refers to it being midnight. An example would be: "And every night about midnight I turned the latch of his door and opened it oh, so gently"
In all of these narratives Edgar Allan Poe gives great examples of Gothic style. Taken together they pertain imagery, symbolism and setting. He has given American literature a name not to be forgotten. Poe led a troubled life, one almost befitting his own works. However,
Although imagery and symbolism are very important for Poe's gothic style, his use of setting impacts his writing better than the other elements Poe provides in his writing. Poe describes his setting in great detail. In the short story "The Masque of the Red Death", Poe begins with the description of the "Red Death" and says: "there were seven—an imperial suite. In many places, however, such suites form a long and straight vista, while the folding doors slide back nearly to the walls on either hand, so that the view of the hole extent is scarcely impeded (358)." Poe provides a creepy, but interesting setting in "The Raven" when he describes the setting: "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore"(370) Poe introduces his poems in a dark, spooky kind of mood which adds an interesting feel to it.
The setting Poe uses in "The Black Cat" is that the story opens in a cell of a prisoner the day before he is to be executed by hanging. Poe has a dark setting in "The Tell-Tale Heart" because it refers to it being midnight. An example would be: "And every night about midnight I turned the latch of his door and opened it oh, so gently"
In all of these narratives Edgar Allan Poe gives great examples of Gothic style. Taken together they pertain imagery, symbolism and setting. He has given American literature a name not to be forgotten. Poe led a troubled life, one almost befitting his own works. However,