A Research on the Work of Edgar Allan Poe

1761 Words4 Pages

Edgar Allan Poe Research Paper

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809. He is considered a part of the American Romanticism period. He is best known for his works of mystery and psychological terror. Poe is recognized for his gothic tales of mystery, death, terror, puzzles, and psychological problems (poets.org). He has influenced many writers including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes series. Poe was different than other authors in that he was influenced by his own current life. He had endured many deaths and dark periods. His mother died of tuberculosis and so did his foster mother later on. His wife, Virginia Clemm, also died from this terrible disease. This especially was evident in his works. She influenced him in his works of “Annabel Lee” and “The Raven” (poets.org). Poe uses the themes of terror and the mystery of the mind to show that under the circumstances anything can happen to anyone. In “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”, “The Purloined Letter” and “The Fall of the House of Usher”, Edgar Allan Poe explores horror, the mystery of psychology and puzzles in order to show the depth of the human mind and the consequences of it.

In “The Tell-Tale Heart”, a man opens up by saying that he will defend his sanity yet confessing that he has killed old man who he takes care of. The police show up and ask him if he knows anything about the screams the old man had made. He tells them no and they believe him. In the end he hears them talking and laughing and assumes that they are mocking him and know that he is lying. He ends up confessing his crime and telling them that the body of the old man is under the floorboards.

In the “Tell Tale Heart”, horror is depict...

... middle of paper ...

...as. “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “The Purloined Letter”. Each of these tales have depth that explains the train of thought that one experiences in critical situations. The horror allows one to emotionally connect and observe the situation. The puzzling effect that Poe leaves one with really puts one in a rational state of mind that is needed in committing crimes. Finally, the psychological theme puts it all together as Poe gives a detailed path of mental positions and how they come about. As the reader goes on, he or she realizes that Poe uses indirect messages too. This is seen in “The Fall of the House of Usher”. Edgar Allan Poe uses the themes of terror, puzzles and psychology in his written adventures to show and prove that the human mind is something that is in constant change. Every action has a consequence.

Open Document