August Fackler Honors English

11/30/12 Edgar Allen Poe Essay

Edgar Allen Poe

Edgar Allen Poe, in this day and age, has become the stereotype for the Dark Romantic or the Creepy artist to a degree such that many people allow it to overshadow some of his amazing works. He was a master with words, not only from a technical standpoint with metaphor and meter, but also as a story teller, weaving chilling narratives, and melancholy verses. Some of his ideals and inspirations may have been cynical, or even disturbing, but some were revolutionary, with him bringing about the start of the short story, and the mystery novel. Poe nowadays is seen to be as a dark, sinister author, and this causes many people to overlook the fact that he had amazing talent as a writer. One of Poes many talents as a writer and a storyteller is his ability to set a mood, setting up a story or poem so that they feel just right. He does this by breathing life into the characters, and painting the setting with all the right colors, so that everything comes to be more vivid. But, as I placed my hand upon his shoulder, there came a strong shudder over his whole person; a smile quivered about his lips Here from this small excerpt from Fall of the House of Usher , he is letting out some of the insanity the character has possessed this entire time, in preparation for the chilling climax to the story. the exceeding density of the clouds (which hung so low as to press upon the turrets of the house) did not prevent our perceiving the life-like velocity Here he describes the storm in such a way that it reflects the tensions in the house, and again adds even more to that feel. To me, this is better than any horror film, because it does not rely on grotesque imagery, or sudden terrors to frighten you, but somehow builds up the feeling by gradually adding to it, in an artful way too, if I might add. All great writers seem to have the ability to say exactly what they want to say, without actually saying it. They may do this though a clever metaphor, or even though a deep and hidden symbol, but

August Fackler Honors English

11/30/12 Edgar Allen Poe Essay

they all speak in a voice of their own. This voice that Poe possesses holds an amazing dark beauty to it like that is possessed by the moon or stars. All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream. Here, pulled from Poes A Dream Within A Dream, is a line that radiates with this shadowy endearment. Expressing how the speaker believes that everything is now but a dream, it not only elegantly draws meaning from the poem, but is also used as a tool to connect the two halves of the poem, and maybe will some connotation between them. Its the lines like this one, that draw so much from his writing using so few words, that highlight his work, and embellish his greater pieces. The Raven is definitely seen as the crown jewel of Poes work, and for good reason. It is a masterfully woven tale sorrow, filled with flowing lines that stretch between seamless rhymes. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore This opening line to the poem is immediately an attention grabber, with the excellent use consonance and assonance; it practically rolls off the tongue, flowing so well it seems as if the poem could practically read itself. Not only was he able to achieve this, but also he also simultaneously constructed a foreboding tale of despair and anger, slowly pulled to its climax by rolling stanzas, but repeatedly fading off to the thought of Nevermore. This repetition is amazing in itself to me, in the fact that he could build so greatly on the one this single word, almost like the theme of some great symphony, building on the one melody, slowly changing, while somehow remaining the same beautiful sound. Poe did not live a particular amazing life, despite his all of his talent. While this might have been part of the reason he has such a dark writing style, it is impossible to know for sure. Due to the

August Fackler Honors English

11/30/12 Edgar Allen Poe Essay

exaggeration of some of his lifes blunders, and his rather morbid writing style his is not seen in the best light anymore, and people will avoid his work for this reason. It is disheartening though that this must be the case, for he created some amazing art. Waldo Emerson has written To be great is to be misunderstood and this is very true for many, including Poe, for while he is misunderstood, he is indeed a great writer.