Edgar Allen Poe as the Romantic Artist

Edgar Allan Poe, considered the greatest American poet, was able to draw you into his world and make out believe in his sometimes unrealistic poems. Poe’s most famous works include The Raven, Tell-Tale Heart, and Tales of Ratiocination. Each of which, critics say, were able to control readers minds. Poe’s stories created a blue print for all other authors, no matter the genre, because he used characters to give information about himself, showed diversity by touching on different topics, and exaggerated nature to help add more interesting characteristics to his poems.

First of all, Poe is considered a great poet because the characteristics portrayed by each of his characters described him. Charles Baudelaire states “the man with relaxed nerves, he whose gaze is fixed as straight as sword on objects which increase in importance as he stares at them – this man is Poe himself” (Baudelaire 35). He also states that the women in Poe’s poems resemble him also, with their strange aspirations and knowledge. Clearly by the way Baudelaire is explaining these characters, you can tell Poe does it like no other. Along with having different types of characters comes different types of stories or topics.

The picture of Poe as the Romantic artist was recognized by Charles Baudelaire, one of the greatest French poets of the nineteenth century. Baudelaire and began translating his works and writing articles about him. He discovered Poe’s works three years after his death. Baudelaire characterized Poe as the poète maudit ("accursed poet"), who was not recognized and properly credited for his amazing stories. During Poe’s time his works were not valued but he still was able to continuously create fine pieces of work. Baudelaire himself died broke and...

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...re information about himself with us. Also, he used his life experiences to influence and inspire some of his stories. Poe is considered one of the greatest American poets of all time because he was the original creator for almost all storylines for all topics.

Works Cited

Amper, Susan. “Introduction to Poe Criticism.” Critical Insights 2010; 36-53. Web. 11 March 2014.

Baudelaire, Charles. “An American Genius”. Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Scholastic, 1998: 32-36. Print.

Bloom, Harold. “Bloom Major short story writers, Edgar Allan Poe.” Broomall, PA. Chelsea House Publishers, 1998. Print.

Cambiair, Pierre Celestin. “Poe invented the Modern Detective story.” Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Scholastic, 1998: 44-48. Print.

Postema, James. “Edgar Allan Poe’s Control of Readers: Formal Pressures in Poe’s Dream Poems.” Critcal Insights 2010; 290-300. Web. 11 March 2014.