Edgar Allan Poe's Sacrifice: A Narrative Fiction

531 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Edgar allan poe the tale tale heart literary analysis

She sits on the floor by the window, gazing out at the softly falling snow. She rocks back and forth gently, cocooned in a potato sack blanket. Not a sound has escaped her since I found her out in the cold, earlier today, as I was surveying the forest.
She was cold—too cold—with shallow breath and faint pulse, cut and bruised and smudged with dirt and blood. I carried her back to my cabin where the crackling fire returned colour to her lips and cheeks and a pail of warm water flushed grime from her shiny raven’s wing hair.
The cabin is very still save for her rocking and the flickering red flame in the fireplace. I pluck a leather-bound book from the wooden shelf and sit at my desk. The white square of window fades to black. She stays there nonetheless—rocking, rocking, eyes fixed on something somewhere in the impenetrable darkness. I light my oil lamp, layering shadows across the walls. I pull out a well of ink and my quill pen. …show more content…

Her eyes are dark and obsidian. I meet her gaze. We stay like this for a while, until she slowly rises from her spot by the window, potato sack wrapped tightly around her thin shoulders like a cape. She walks—no, floats over, her gentle footsteps making nary sound nor vibration. Her gaze is fixed on the desk—no, the book—no, the pen.
She approaches, until her thighs hit right against the slanted wooden edge of my desk. I look up at her, she looks down at me. Her expression is not imposing, just tired, and quite

Show More
Related

  • The Impact of Descriptive Writing in Wharton's Ethan Frome

    429 Words  | 1 Pages

    The night was so still that they heard the frozen snow crackle under their feet. The crash of a loaded branch falling far off in the woods reverberated like a musket-shot, and once a fox barked, and Mattie shrank closer to Ethan, and quickened her steps.

    Read More

  • Explication Of Sharon Olds Poem, "Late Poem To My Father"

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    lines two and three she describes the house with “unlit rooms” and a “hot fireplace”. She goes on

    Read More

  • The Life And Death Of Edgar Allan Poe

    1437 Words  | 3 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of actress Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe and actor David Poe, Jr. His father abandoned the family in 1810, and his mother died of tuberculosis when he was only two, so Poe was taken into the home of John Allan, a successful tobacco merchant in Richmond, Virginia. Although his middle name is often misspelled as "Allen," it is actually "Allan" after this family. After attending the Misses Duborg boarding school in London and Manor School in Stoke Newington, London, England, Poe moved back to Richmond, Virginia, with the Allans in 1820. Poe registered at the University of Virginia in 1826, but only stayed there for one year. He was estranged from his foster father at some point in this period over gambling debts Poe had acquired while trying to get more spending money, and so Poe enlisted in the United States Army as a private using the name Edgar A. Perry on May 26, 1827. That same year, he released his first book, Tamarlane and Other Poems. After serving for two years and attaining the rank of Sergeant-major, Poe was discharged. In 1829, Poe's foster mother Frances Allan died and he published his second book, Al Aaraf. As per his foster mother's deathwish, Poe reconciled with his foster father, who coordinated an appointment for him to the United States Military Academy at West Point. His time at West Point was ill-fated, however, as Poe supposedly deliberately disobeyed orders and was dismissed. After that, his foster father repudiated him until his death in March 27, 1834.

    Read More

  • The Life and Work of Edgar Allan Poe

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to parents who were traveling actors. His father David Poe Jr. died probably in 1810. Elizabeth Hopkins Poe died in 1811, leaving three children. Edgar was taken into the home of a merchant from Richmond named John Allan. The remaining children were cared for by others. Poe's brother William died young and sister Rosalie later became insane. At the age of five Poe could recite passages of English poetry. Later one of his teachers in Richmond said: "While the other boys wrote mere mechanical verses, Poe wrote genuine poetry; the boy was a born poet." Poe was brought up partly in England (1815-20), where he attended Manor School at Stoke Newington. Later it became the setting for his story 'William Wilson'. Since Poe was never legally adopted, he took Allan's name for his middle name. Poe attended the University of Virginia (1826-27), but was expelled for not paying his gambling debts. His expulsion led to a quarrel with Allan, who refused to pay the debts. Allan later disowned him. In 1826 Poe became engaged to Elmira Royster, but her parents broke off the engagement. During his stay at the university, Poe wrote some stories, but not much is known of his beginning works.

    Read More

  • The Life and Writings of Edgar Allen Poe

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    "After reading all that has been written, and after thinking all that can be thought, on the topics of God and the soul, the man who has a right to say that he thinks at all, will find himself face to face with the conclusion that, on these topics, the most profound thought is that which can be the least easily distinguished from the most superficial sentiment" (Poe). This quote shows how Edgar Allan Poe’s perspective was very different compared to other writers during that time. Poe was an American short story writer, poet, critic, and editor who was famous for his cultivation in mystery and macabre. His success in his works may or may not have been because of his emotional and mental problems. Edgar Allan Poe was a writer whose works represent his own unique style, how his emotional instability affected him, and what happened in his life.

    Read More

  • The Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe

    1475 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the life of Edgar Allan Poe, he suffered many unfortunate events and endured several difficult situations. Some speculate that it was these experiences that helped to formulate the famous writing style of Edgar Allan Poe. His dark tales such as "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Tell-Tale Heart" are horrific, and his poems such as "Alone" and "The Raven" show evidence that his life experiences influenced their dreariness. Poe's story plots and his own life are undeniably related and this relationship is intricately defined in many of his works.

    Read More

  • The Life of Edgar Allan Poe

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    The life of Edgar Allan Poe, was stuffed with tragedies that all affected his art. From the very start of his writing career, he adored writing poems for the ladies in his life. When he reached adulthood and came to the realization of how harsh life could be, his writing grew to be darker and more disturbing, possibly as a result of his intense experimenting with opium and alcohol. His stories continue to be some of the most frightening stories ever composed, because of this, some have considered this to be the reason behind these themes. Many historians and literature enthusiasts have presumed his volatile love life as the source while others have credited it to his substance abuse. The influence of his one-of-a-kind writing is more than likely a combination of both theories; but the main factor is the death of many of his loved ones and the abuse which he endured. This, not surprisingly, darkened his perspective considerably.

    Read More

  • Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will--as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been. When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over...

    Read More

  • Jill's Monologue

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    She was looking at the wall while lying on her bed. The bed was not big but it was big enough for her. The bedroom was cold and her blanket covered her cold feet. Everyday, Rebecca would pick her granddaughter up form school, fed her, and laid her on her bed. This time she looked at the wall, like an artist contemplates her masterpiece after

    Read More

  • Thanksgiving Day

    543 Words  | 2 Pages

    I stepped out of the chilly November air and into the warmth of my home. The first snowfall of the year had hit early in the morning, and the soft, powdery snow provided entertainment for hours. As I laid my furry mittens and warm hat on the bench to dry, I was immediately greeted with the rich scent of sweet apple pie, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and the twenty-pound turkey my mother was preparing for our Thanksgiving feast.

    Read More

  • Death and Betrayal in Poe's Life

    856 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was born to traveling actors in Boston. He was hit hard with death at a young age as his mother and father both died within two days when Poe was only two years old. The wealthy John Allan and his wife became the legal guardians of young Edgar. When Edgar was fourteen, he met the first woman in his life, Jane Stith Stanard, the inspiration to his poem “To Helen”(1831). However, Mrs. Stanard passed away only a year after Poe first met her. In 1825 Poe became engaged with Elmira Royster. While he was away from her, he would write her many letters; however, Elmira’s parents intercepted the letters. Edgar wondered why she never replied, and when he went back to see her, he found out that she married someone else. This left Poe in a very depressed state. Poe’s relationship with the Allans was never secure, and this became evident when John Allan refused to pay Edgar’s debts at the University of Virginia. Edgar was then kicked out of school. In the next couple of years Poe has to fight through the death of his foster mother and his brother. Then in 1833 he moved in with his Aunt Maria Clemm. John Allan died a year later. He then married his cousin Virginia three years later. Virginia then died in 1842 (Anderson 9-64). Poe was introduced to death and betrayal throughout his young life leaving him in a very depressed state, and these traits are present throughout his short stories and poems.

    Read More

  • Weak Ankles

    609 Words  | 2 Pages

    Her hands shake as she places her size 6, custom crafted, pale pink ballet slippers next to an ancient off white folding chair. The dull chair moans and groans as she rests herself upon the antique. She tucks a few lose wayward strands of hair behind her left ear. She wipes her small hands on the thighs of her tights as she leans forward. She rolls her head back on her shoulders, stretching the muscles in her long, lean neck. She rolls and shrugs her tiny shoulders forward and...

    Read More

  • Creative Writing: Empire Island

    845 Words  | 2 Pages

    I awoke in a cold sweat, with a bad feeling in my gut. Unable to shake it, and subsequently fall asleep, I decided to take a shift on the guard tower. Sitting up, with a grunt, I dragged myself out of bed, and towards the door. As I stumbled out into the street, and turned to face the tower, the pain doubled, but I shook it off as eating some bad pork.

    Read More

  • A Winter Snow

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    As I step out onto my grandmother’s back porch, I remember losing my breath, not only from the bitter cold, but also from the captivating scene. I am immediately taken aback by the view. The entire ground, as far as my eyes can see, is coated in a hefty blanket of solid white. The light seems to dance atop the snow, making it glitter wherever the sun shines. All the trees around are snowcapped, as if sprinkled with powdered sugar. Out in the distance, I gaze upon a small red bird scratching around in the snow, searching for food it seems. Its red feathers are a sharp contrast to the white snow. Swiftly, the bird leaps into the air and makes its way over to the birdbath. Alas, the bird seems disappointed to find the water frozen.

    Read More

  • Out the Darkness

    1542 Words  | 4 Pages

    He was sitting in a large chair close to the fire. He was able to observe her entrance and smiled softly to himself, realizing she was unaware of His presence. Observing her on more than one occasion, He watched her every motion, realizing that her wants and needs were of a woman that had seen many sorrows. She intrigued Him, he could see that she became one with the darkness, thriving like the black orchids that feed from the night, giving her joy and comfort. It was an inner peace that fed her dying soul with her constant denial of loneliness. He pondered her captivating darkness as she moved toward the fire.

    Read More

More about Edgar Allan Poe's Sacrifice: A Narrative Fiction

Open Document