Why Is Edgar Allan Poe Considered A Dark Romanticism
Antoinette Moss
Mrs. Ferguson
ENG-251
25 July 2017
Dark Romantics
Romanticism is the movement in literature that celebrates the expression of emotion and internal conflict. There are two different types of romanticism, light and dark. Edgar Allan Poe is noted as one of the greatest dark romantic poets of all time. Dark romanticism dealt with death, grief and depression on the darker side of the human spirit. It frequently shows individuals failing in their attempts to make changes for the better. Poe explored supernatural and gothic elements and put those ideas in his works. In “The Tell-Tale Heart” Edgar Allan Poe uses a sinister and disturbing narrator, as well as a references to his life to establish this story as a dark romantic piece of literature.
Edgar Allan Poe used his hardships in life to influence his work. Poe had a rough upbringing as he became an orphan at the age of three due to both of his parents dying. After being adopted his life still did not get any better with the death of his adopted mother and …show more content…
The story is told by an unnamed narrator who tries to convince the reader of his sanity, while explaining the murder he committed. The narrator is irrational and is driven mad by the old man's eye. The narrator says, “For it is not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye” (Poe 715). The evil eye is the reason the narrator commits the murder. This is an element of Romantic writing due to the irrational behavior of the narrator. Another example of romantic writing is when the police come to the narrator's house. The narrator starts to hear the beating of the man´s heart and confesses the crime. The narrators says, “’Villains!’ I shrieked, ‘dissemble no more! I admit the deed! - tear up the planks! - here, here! - it is the beating of his hideous heart!’” (Poe 718). Hearing things that does not exist, making the narrator insane, is another element of Romantic
Mrs. Ferguson
ENG-251
25 July 2017
Dark Romantics
Romanticism is the movement in literature that celebrates the expression of emotion and internal conflict. There are two different types of romanticism, light and dark. Edgar Allan Poe is noted as one of the greatest dark romantic poets of all time. Dark romanticism dealt with death, grief and depression on the darker side of the human spirit. It frequently shows individuals failing in their attempts to make changes for the better. Poe explored supernatural and gothic elements and put those ideas in his works. In “The Tell-Tale Heart” Edgar Allan Poe uses a sinister and disturbing narrator, as well as a references to his life to establish this story as a dark romantic piece of literature.
Edgar Allan Poe used his hardships in life to influence his work. Poe had a rough upbringing as he became an orphan at the age of three due to both of his parents dying. After being adopted his life still did not get any better with the death of his adopted mother and …show more content…
The story is told by an unnamed narrator who tries to convince the reader of his sanity, while explaining the murder he committed. The narrator is irrational and is driven mad by the old man's eye. The narrator says, “For it is not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye” (Poe 715). The evil eye is the reason the narrator commits the murder. This is an element of Romantic writing due to the irrational behavior of the narrator. Another example of romantic writing is when the police come to the narrator's house. The narrator starts to hear the beating of the man´s heart and confesses the crime. The narrators says, “’Villains!’ I shrieked, ‘dissemble no more! I admit the deed! - tear up the planks! - here, here! - it is the beating of his hideous heart!’” (Poe 718). Hearing things that does not exist, making the narrator insane, is another element of Romantic