Poe vs. Shakespeare
The Comparison of Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare
Brandi Greene
University Composition and Communication I/COM155
May 9th, 2013
University of Phoenix
The Comparison of Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare
Many have been inspired by the likes of Edgar Allen Poe and Shakespeare in literature but, there are similarities and differences between the two. Each author could lure their audiences by the characteristics of their writing. Their places in society also differed, as each had different ways of dealing with the people in their society. Furthermore, the influences each of them had in literature have molded how many people see them as transcendent and prestigious authors. The types of writing that Poe and Shakespeare wrote can be compared and contrasted in two categories, genre and language. Both Poe and Shakespeare wrote tragedies, but Shakespeare was also fluent in comedies like “Taming of the Shrew” and romance, such as “The Tempest.” Poe was only familiar with tragedy in a dark and mysterious sense, such as, “The Raven.” In Poe’s day, there were essentially five genres of “popular” stories: Romances (Sentimental and Historical), Morality tales, Humor/Burlesques, Adventures (mostly sea yarns, and later stories of the frontier) and tales of Sensation. (European Graduate School EGS, 1997-2012) Poe later, was also widely recognized as the inventor of modern detective stories and a mastermind in the science fiction genre. His writings were a reflection from the era of the Dark Romantics, the Gothic genre, and the use of his own personal issues. Every short story or poem written by Poe has had a dark ambiance about it. The works of Poe are diverse and includes classics as “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Tell Tale Heart”, and “The Black Cat.” The contributing factor of the predominate theme in his work of a lovely woman’s death was because of the losses of his mother and wife. This motif is perhaps most splendidly
Brandi Greene
University Composition and Communication I/COM155
May 9th, 2013
University of Phoenix
The Comparison of Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare
Many have been inspired by the likes of Edgar Allen Poe and Shakespeare in literature but, there are similarities and differences between the two. Each author could lure their audiences by the characteristics of their writing. Their places in society also differed, as each had different ways of dealing with the people in their society. Furthermore, the influences each of them had in literature have molded how many people see them as transcendent and prestigious authors. The types of writing that Poe and Shakespeare wrote can be compared and contrasted in two categories, genre and language. Both Poe and Shakespeare wrote tragedies, but Shakespeare was also fluent in comedies like “Taming of the Shrew” and romance, such as “The Tempest.” Poe was only familiar with tragedy in a dark and mysterious sense, such as, “The Raven.” In Poe’s day, there were essentially five genres of “popular” stories: Romances (Sentimental and Historical), Morality tales, Humor/Burlesques, Adventures (mostly sea yarns, and later stories of the frontier) and tales of Sensation. (European Graduate School EGS, 1997-2012) Poe later, was also widely recognized as the inventor of modern detective stories and a mastermind in the science fiction genre. His writings were a reflection from the era of the Dark Romantics, the Gothic genre, and the use of his own personal issues. Every short story or poem written by Poe has had a dark ambiance about it. The works of Poe are diverse and includes classics as “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Tell Tale Heart”, and “The Black Cat.” The contributing factor of the predominate theme in his work of a lovely woman’s death was because of the losses of his mother and wife. This motif is perhaps most splendidly
References: Mabillard, A. (2000, August 20). Why study Shakespeare?. Retrieved from http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/whystudyshakespeare.html Brown, Henry. Shakespeare 's patrons & other essays. London: J. M. Dent & sons, 1912. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2009. (Accessed on: April 30th, 2013) http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/patronelizabeth.html Poe Museum of Richmond, visited on May 1st,2013 http://www.poemuseum.org. European Graduate School. (1997-2012). Edgar Allan Poe - Biography. Retrieved from http://www.egs.edu/library/edgar-allan-poe/ Poe, E. A. (1845). The Raven. Craig, W.J., ed. “Romeo and Juliet” The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.1914; Bartleby.com, 2000.www.bartleby.com/ Craig, W.J., ed. “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.1914; Bartleby.com, 2000.www.bartleby.com/