Edgar Allan Poe's Influence On American Culture
When thinking about Edgar Allan Poe a few of the very first things that comes to mind when you think of this famous writer is his dark and mysterious style of writing and also his crazy unfortunate personal life that is quite unbelievable. The result of his personal life is the truly amazing short stories and poems that we know and love to this day. Whether enjoying them around Halloween or any other time of the year Poe wrote many stories that enjoyed now and for many generations to come. If Edgar Allan Poe has been an influential writer in our culture close to two hundred years just imagine how long the infamous writer will be around. Poe has had many different influences on American culture throughout history, including, writers, films, popular music and even art. One could easily say that Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most influential writers. Edgar Allan Poe was the son of David Poe Jr. and Eliza Poe. He was born on
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January 19, 1809 in Boston Massachusetts. Both of his parents were in the entertainment business, both traveling actors. Edgar was born the middle child of three children. He had an older brother named William and a younger sister named Rosalie. Poe had a tragedy stricken life, by the age of three Poe had unfortunately lost both of his parents. Poe and his two siblings were separated and went to live with different family members after their parents passing. Poe was sent down south to Richmond Virginia. He lived with a wealthy tobacco merchant named John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan. During his time with the Allan’s he discovered his love for poetry. In 1826 Poe left the tobacco farm in Richmond to attend the University of Virginia. While he was there he acquired a very large amount of debt due to John Allan not providing enough funds for him to attend the university. After his first year of college Poe returned home to visit his fiance Elmira Royster. When he arrived he discovered she had become engaged to another man in during his absence. Shortly after his return home he enlisted in the United States Army. Two years after his enlistment he heard that Frances Allan was dying of tuberculosis and wanted to see him before she died. By the time he had returned home to Richmond Frances Allan had been buried. This devastated Poe because this was the only mother that he have ever known. After her death Poe left to go live with his Aunt Maria Clemm in Baltimore Maryland. Maria had a daughter named Virginia whom Poe would later marry. While in Baltimore Poe continued to live in poverty. During his early years as a writer he was published in countless magazines and wrote one novel. But this was without success he continued to struggle and live in poverty. Nothing truly bad happened to him for a few years until 1842, when his beloved wife contracted tuberculosis and pasted away a few years later. All of this tragedy lead up to the great success that Poe had been looking for. After the publication of “The Raven” in 1845 Edgar Allan Poe began his rise to fame.
Edgar Allan Poe had a great many of accomplishments as a writer at the time and he still has an effect on people today. Many authors today claim that he is their inspiration and a great influence of horror, mystery, and suspense genre of writing. Even being the first to write a horror or a mystery story. Susie Zappia, in her article, Influence of Edgar Allan Poe on American Culture, has stated that “Poe is credited with the invention of both the detective story and the horror genre. His detective character Dupin represents a unique literary innovation, and one which Conan Doyle always acknowledged for influence.” While there are many authors that make their living by writing in these genres, Edgar Allan Poe was the very first and therefore, the influence that Poe has made on today’s style of writing is quite magnificent. Zappia also writes that Stephen King is known to have loved Poe as an author during his teen years and has credited him for being a great influence on his writing today. Zappia continues making the point of Poe being a very influential writer not only to well known writers but just about everyone. In addition, his prose poem "Eureka" is sometimes considered an early work of science fiction. Which is just another genre that he has had a great influence on.
Edgar Allan Poe’s influence in the genres that we all know and love today had an impact in the american gothic style of writing.
Edgar Allan Poe brought about several changes in the literary style of his time period. Poe, as a writer, poet, editor and a critical writer influenced not only American literature, but he also had an impact on international literature. Stories like “The Pit and the Pendulum,” “The Black Cat,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher,” as well as poems like the “Raven” set him apart from other writes of his time. “Many anthologies credit him as the "architect" of the modern short story. He was also one of the first critics to focus primarily on the effect of the style and of the structure in a literary work; as such, he has been seen as a forerunner to the "art for art's sake" movement. (Zappia)” Poe’s style still impacts writers today. "Nearly every important American writer after Poe shows signs of influence, especially when working in the gothic mode or with grotesque humor
(Zappia).”
Edgar Allan Poe not only had a great impact on genres of stories and poems, he was also very influential in the criticism of others writings. Poe is responsible for what is described as art for art’s sake movement. He spent many years as a credit working for various magazine companies criticising the work of other writers. As told on the Poetry Foundation Website, “Poe was also the principal forerunner of the "art for art's sake" movement in nineteenth-century European literature. Whereas earlier critics predominantly concerned themselves with moral or ideological generalities, Poe focused his criticism on the specifics of style and construction that contributed to a work's effectiveness or failure (Poetry Foundation). ” This new way of critiquing writing was a new way of thinking and is another that Edgar Allan Poe has been very influential in American Literature. Also the on the Foundation of Poetry website, in Edgar Allan Poe’s biography it is said that, in Poe’s own work, he was know to show and demonstrate a command of language that was well inspired and original. Poe's poetry and short stories greatly influenced the French Symbolists of the late nineteenth century, who in turn altered the direction of modern literature. It is this philosophical and artistic transaction that accounts for much of Poe's importance in literary history (Poetry Foundation). This new way Poe was was critiquing literary was revolutionary and a creative way of thinking.
During Edgar Allan Poe’s time period, Scientist were looking for a new and creative way of giving new information to the public in a way that would be well understood and interesting. They looked the writers like Poe to present their ideas in a story format so to be well understood. This shows how diverse the writing style of Edgar Allan Poe actually was. According to writer Ellison Murray on the the Poe Museum website, Newly emerging professional scientists in the United States was not equipped or interested in communicating new information with the public. Therefore Murray suggests that our essential understanding for nineteenth-century scientific discoveries were accredited to writers like Edgar Allan Poe, who commented on many of the important popular scientific trends of his lifetime. Murray refers to those writers that attempted to communicate to the public about science as the popularizers of science, and suggests that “Their success was partially due to their ability to present the huge mass of scientific fact in the form of compelling stories (Murray).” Many during this time would not have understood or really cared about the new scientific facts or discoveries if it had not been for these stories being written. Writing from authors like Poe challenge the differences between science and literature and create new similarities between the two.
Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories and poems have had a great impact in the world of films. Films are very influential in our society today and have many great influences in the past. But one of the most profound is Edgar Allan Poe especially for those films in the horror genre. As stated by Matthew Benbenek, writer for the website taste of cinema, as soon as film as a medium became more popular, Edgar Allan Poe’s stories were quickly adapted by horror directors due to the thrilling and dark nature of the plots. Just of the few directors mentioned that have had influences by Poe are Boris Karloff, Vincent Price and Roger Corman. Since the film media has been popular, his tales had been filmed countless times and in many different styles, inspiring directors of various horror movements and eras. The horror genre and suspense style of writing that he first established has greatly influenced the modern film era. There are not a lot of movies that do not include this style genre or at least some element of it. Poe has had countless movies made about and adapted from his poems and short stories.
Another great medium that has had influences from Edgar Allan Poe is Music. Music is a huge part of many people’s lives. It’s hard to go a single day without listening a to a song or one getting stuck in your head. So for Edgar Allan Poe to influence a huge part of American culture is truly astonishing. There are countless songs in which Poe’s poems and short stories are mentioned. Author Anna K on the mixbook website compiled a list of great songs sung by iconic artists. A few of them include “The Beatles “I am the Walrus” “Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.”(Anna K). “Voltaire’s song “Graveyard Picnic” mentions several of Poe’s works. "If you squirm at the Conqueror Worm. ." "Of the corpse of my Annabel Lee If you fear there's something you hear A heart beating under the floor Still your heart, there's no need to start It's just me having tea with Lenore" "It's just you, Edgar Allan and me" (Anna K).” And Finally Britney Spears named her 2001 concert tour Dream Within a Dream, incorporating lines from that poem and other works of Poe into her show (Anna K). These are just a few of the countless songs and artists that have used references or have been influenced by Edgar Allan Poe.
One last thing that has Edgar Allan Poe has influence is Art. Poe has influenced art in many ways including works by Marilyn Manson and other famous artists. Another huge art form in the United States that has been influenced by Poe is the tattooing industry. There are a great number of tattoos that have quotes from some of his more famous poems. Also any kind of tattoo in the horror genre could be said that it was influenced by him. This is due to the fact that he was the first person the write in that style. Many works of beautiful and well drawn art are a tribute to Poe’s innovative style of writing.
Edgar Allan Poe’s life works had and continue to have a great amount of impact on literature and modern culture. HIs influence can been seen all over the world in many different ways. The world may have been a less frightening, less interesting and altogether different place had edgar Allan Poe never written his magnificent works of fiction.
January 19, 1809 in Boston Massachusetts. Both of his parents were in the entertainment business, both traveling actors. Edgar was born the middle child of three children. He had an older brother named William and a younger sister named Rosalie. Poe had a tragedy stricken life, by the age of three Poe had unfortunately lost both of his parents. Poe and his two siblings were separated and went to live with different family members after their parents passing. Poe was sent down south to Richmond Virginia. He lived with a wealthy tobacco merchant named John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan. During his time with the Allan’s he discovered his love for poetry. In 1826 Poe left the tobacco farm in Richmond to attend the University of Virginia. While he was there he acquired a very large amount of debt due to John Allan not providing enough funds for him to attend the university. After his first year of college Poe returned home to visit his fiance Elmira Royster. When he arrived he discovered she had become engaged to another man in during his absence. Shortly after his return home he enlisted in the United States Army. Two years after his enlistment he heard that Frances Allan was dying of tuberculosis and wanted to see him before she died. By the time he had returned home to Richmond Frances Allan had been buried. This devastated Poe because this was the only mother that he have ever known. After her death Poe left to go live with his Aunt Maria Clemm in Baltimore Maryland. Maria had a daughter named Virginia whom Poe would later marry. While in Baltimore Poe continued to live in poverty. During his early years as a writer he was published in countless magazines and wrote one novel. But this was without success he continued to struggle and live in poverty. Nothing truly bad happened to him for a few years until 1842, when his beloved wife contracted tuberculosis and pasted away a few years later. All of this tragedy lead up to the great success that Poe had been looking for. After the publication of “The Raven” in 1845 Edgar Allan Poe began his rise to fame.
Edgar Allan Poe had a great many of accomplishments as a writer at the time and he still has an effect on people today. Many authors today claim that he is their inspiration and a great influence of horror, mystery, and suspense genre of writing. Even being the first to write a horror or a mystery story. Susie Zappia, in her article, Influence of Edgar Allan Poe on American Culture, has stated that “Poe is credited with the invention of both the detective story and the horror genre. His detective character Dupin represents a unique literary innovation, and one which Conan Doyle always acknowledged for influence.” While there are many authors that make their living by writing in these genres, Edgar Allan Poe was the very first and therefore, the influence that Poe has made on today’s style of writing is quite magnificent. Zappia also writes that Stephen King is known to have loved Poe as an author during his teen years and has credited him for being a great influence on his writing today. Zappia continues making the point of Poe being a very influential writer not only to well known writers but just about everyone. In addition, his prose poem "Eureka" is sometimes considered an early work of science fiction. Which is just another genre that he has had a great influence on.
Edgar Allan Poe’s influence in the genres that we all know and love today had an impact in the american gothic style of writing.
Edgar Allan Poe brought about several changes in the literary style of his time period. Poe, as a writer, poet, editor and a critical writer influenced not only American literature, but he also had an impact on international literature. Stories like “The Pit and the Pendulum,” “The Black Cat,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher,” as well as poems like the “Raven” set him apart from other writes of his time. “Many anthologies credit him as the "architect" of the modern short story. He was also one of the first critics to focus primarily on the effect of the style and of the structure in a literary work; as such, he has been seen as a forerunner to the "art for art's sake" movement. (Zappia)” Poe’s style still impacts writers today. "Nearly every important American writer after Poe shows signs of influence, especially when working in the gothic mode or with grotesque humor
(Zappia).”
Edgar Allan Poe not only had a great impact on genres of stories and poems, he was also very influential in the criticism of others writings. Poe is responsible for what is described as art for art’s sake movement. He spent many years as a credit working for various magazine companies criticising the work of other writers. As told on the Poetry Foundation Website, “Poe was also the principal forerunner of the "art for art's sake" movement in nineteenth-century European literature. Whereas earlier critics predominantly concerned themselves with moral or ideological generalities, Poe focused his criticism on the specifics of style and construction that contributed to a work's effectiveness or failure (Poetry Foundation). ” This new way of critiquing writing was a new way of thinking and is another that Edgar Allan Poe has been very influential in American Literature. Also the on the Foundation of Poetry website, in Edgar Allan Poe’s biography it is said that, in Poe’s own work, he was know to show and demonstrate a command of language that was well inspired and original. Poe's poetry and short stories greatly influenced the French Symbolists of the late nineteenth century, who in turn altered the direction of modern literature. It is this philosophical and artistic transaction that accounts for much of Poe's importance in literary history (Poetry Foundation). This new way Poe was was critiquing literary was revolutionary and a creative way of thinking.
During Edgar Allan Poe’s time period, Scientist were looking for a new and creative way of giving new information to the public in a way that would be well understood and interesting. They looked the writers like Poe to present their ideas in a story format so to be well understood. This shows how diverse the writing style of Edgar Allan Poe actually was. According to writer Ellison Murray on the the Poe Museum website, Newly emerging professional scientists in the United States was not equipped or interested in communicating new information with the public. Therefore Murray suggests that our essential understanding for nineteenth-century scientific discoveries were accredited to writers like Edgar Allan Poe, who commented on many of the important popular scientific trends of his lifetime. Murray refers to those writers that attempted to communicate to the public about science as the popularizers of science, and suggests that “Their success was partially due to their ability to present the huge mass of scientific fact in the form of compelling stories (Murray).” Many during this time would not have understood or really cared about the new scientific facts or discoveries if it had not been for these stories being written. Writing from authors like Poe challenge the differences between science and literature and create new similarities between the two.
Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories and poems have had a great impact in the world of films. Films are very influential in our society today and have many great influences in the past. But one of the most profound is Edgar Allan Poe especially for those films in the horror genre. As stated by Matthew Benbenek, writer for the website taste of cinema, as soon as film as a medium became more popular, Edgar Allan Poe’s stories were quickly adapted by horror directors due to the thrilling and dark nature of the plots. Just of the few directors mentioned that have had influences by Poe are Boris Karloff, Vincent Price and Roger Corman. Since the film media has been popular, his tales had been filmed countless times and in many different styles, inspiring directors of various horror movements and eras. The horror genre and suspense style of writing that he first established has greatly influenced the modern film era. There are not a lot of movies that do not include this style genre or at least some element of it. Poe has had countless movies made about and adapted from his poems and short stories.
Another great medium that has had influences from Edgar Allan Poe is Music. Music is a huge part of many people’s lives. It’s hard to go a single day without listening a to a song or one getting stuck in your head. So for Edgar Allan Poe to influence a huge part of American culture is truly astonishing. There are countless songs in which Poe’s poems and short stories are mentioned. Author Anna K on the mixbook website compiled a list of great songs sung by iconic artists. A few of them include “The Beatles “I am the Walrus” “Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.”(Anna K). “Voltaire’s song “Graveyard Picnic” mentions several of Poe’s works. "If you squirm at the Conqueror Worm. ." "Of the corpse of my Annabel Lee If you fear there's something you hear A heart beating under the floor Still your heart, there's no need to start It's just me having tea with Lenore" "It's just you, Edgar Allan and me" (Anna K).” And Finally Britney Spears named her 2001 concert tour Dream Within a Dream, incorporating lines from that poem and other works of Poe into her show (Anna K). These are just a few of the countless songs and artists that have used references or have been influenced by Edgar Allan Poe.
One last thing that has Edgar Allan Poe has influence is Art. Poe has influenced art in many ways including works by Marilyn Manson and other famous artists. Another huge art form in the United States that has been influenced by Poe is the tattooing industry. There are a great number of tattoos that have quotes from some of his more famous poems. Also any kind of tattoo in the horror genre could be said that it was influenced by him. This is due to the fact that he was the first person the write in that style. Many works of beautiful and well drawn art are a tribute to Poe’s innovative style of writing.
Edgar Allan Poe’s life works had and continue to have a great amount of impact on literature and modern culture. HIs influence can been seen all over the world in many different ways. The world may have been a less frightening, less interesting and altogether different place had edgar Allan Poe never written his magnificent works of fiction.