Edgar Allen Poe's Use of Diction Born in 1809, losing his parents and contact with his siblings before the age of three, Edgar Allen Poe had no idea that he was destined to be a great writer. Before he mysteriously died in 1849, he wrote many tales, including poems and short stories, which immortalized his name. The Raven was one of Poe's greatest poems that brought him much fame. Poe's The Raven displays his poetical prowess through the use of his method to writing, diction and literary techniques. Like others held in the spotlight, Poe's talent and works were analyzed by critics. A few critics thought his popularity was just luck; however, other critics acknowledged Poe's intellect. Poe, in response to some criticism on his construction of The Raven, wrote his "Philosophy in Composition," as seen in Macdonald's book (116-128). His purpose was to prove that a standard pattern to writing existed in The Raven. Poe began The Raven with his common theme of death which is prevalent in many of his works. In the case of this poem, it is a person mourning the death of his beloved. This theme most likely originated from his unstable family life as a child and the diminishing health of his wife who gave him emotional stability. These circumstances possibly led Poe to drink alcohol and take drugs, as suggested by Braddy, and influenced him to create such a morbid theme (1-6). Next, Poe decided on a word to center the poem around; this word was "nevermore." Braddy suggested that Poe devised this word because he would soon never be able to hold his wife, Virginia, again (10). Poe held steadfast to his method and needed a person or thing to say this word. He first thought of a parrot, but then moved onto the idea of... ... middle of paper ... ...ny, 1935. 500-504. Braddy, Haldeen. Three Dimensional Poe. El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1973. 1-19. Davidson, Edward H. Poe: A Critical Study. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1957. 76-104. Halliburton, David. Edgar Allen Poe: A Phenomenological View. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973. 46-49, 104-107, 122-149, 176-185, 368-369. Jacobs, Robert D. Poe: Journalist & Critic. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1969. 434-443. Macdonald, Dwight. Poems of Edgar Allen Poe. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1965. 77-80, 107-135. Pahl, Dennis. "De-composing Poe's 'Philosophy.'" Texas Studies in Literature and Language. Ed. Tony Hilfer, and John Rumrich. Vol. 38, no. 1. University of Texas Press, 1996. 1-23. Thompson, G.R. Poe's Fiction. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1973. 96-101.
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Show MorePoe, Edgar Allan. Annabel Lee. 8th ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. 691. Print.
“Poe’s Theory of Poetry.” The Big Read. Handout One. N.d.. 16. Web. 19 April 2014.
My favorite quote by Poe is “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.” As Poe once said Edgar Allan Poe poems based on the raven and the bells being dark and mysterious. The raven based off his love such as lonore as someone taps on his chamber door nothing appears, hoping it would be lenore or at least hear from her at the end of the story. Then as he asks the bird multiple questions he responds with “nevermore” (Hallqvist). Edgar was born on January 19, 1809 in boston (Seidel). Coming from a broken home as in mother died while he was just two years old and father deserted. Once he went into college he soon went into debt and was kicked out. After
Krutch, Joseph Wood. Edgar Allan Poe: a Study in Genius. New York: Atheneum, 1965. Print.
Before one can understand “The Raven,” they need to understand Poe’s past. Edgar lived a very sorrowful life full of death and hate. By the age of two, his mother had passed of tuberculosis, by only after his father had already abandoned them both. Taken in as a foster child by the Allan family, he began to grow into his writing. Poe was only six years old when he traveled to England for school. He headed back to America after about five years, bringing back with him the Latin and French languages, as well as an
Poe, Edgar Allan, et al. The short fiction of Edgar Allan Poe: an annotated edition. University of Illinois Press, 1990.
Giordano, Robert. "A short biography of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)." 27 June 2005. 5 April
Edgar Allan Poe?s ?The Raven? is a dark reflection on lost love, death, and loss of hope. The poem examines the emotions of a young man who has lost his lover to death and who tries unsuccessfully to distract himself from his sadness through books. Books, however, prove to be of little help, as his night becomes a nightmare and his solitude is shattered by a single visitor, the raven. Through this poem, Poe uses symbolism, imagery and tone, as well as a variety of poetic elements to enforce his theme of sadness and death of the one he loves.
Thomson, Gary Richard, and Poe Edgar. The selected writings of Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Norton & Company, 2004
Quinn, Arthur Hobson., and Shawn Rosenheim. "New York- "The Raven" and Other Matters." Edgar Allan Poe: a Critical Biography. Baltimore (Md.): John Hopkins UP, 1998. 405-50. Print.
Poe, Edgar A. “The Raven.” Elements of Literature. Fifth Course Literature of the United States
Edgar Allen Poe was among the many influential poem writers in the 1800’s. Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. His father was named David Poe, Jr., and his mother was Elizabeth Arnold who were both “talented actors” (Werlock) at this time. Unfortunately Poe was left an orphan at the age of two when his parents passed away. He was raised by his godfather John Allan who lived in Richmond, Virginia as merchant. His godfather raised him as a “Southern Patrician gentleman and educated him at the university of Virginia and West Point” (Werlock). Later on in his life he married a young fourteen-year-old girl named Virginia Clemmon on May 16,1836.
Shulman, Robert. Poe and the Powers of the Mind. Vol. 37. N.p.: The John Hopkins
Quinn, Arthur Hobson. Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography. New York: D. Appleton-Century Company, 1941. Internet.
Frye, Steven. Critical Insights: The Tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Pasadena, CA: Salem, 2010. Print.