"I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily--how calmly I can tell you the whole story." --The Tell-Tale Heart
Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 and passed away in 1849. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as the inventor of the detective fiction genre. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," initiated the modern detective story. Poe is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction.
Poe's best-known fiction works are Gothic, adhering to the genre's conventions to appeal to the public taste. His most recurring themes deal with questions of death, including its physical signs, the effects of decomposition, concerns of premature burial, the reanimation of the dead, and mourning.
Many of his works are generally considered part of the dark romanticism genre, such as his famous poem, "The Raven", and his short story "The Tell-Tale Heart." Beyond horror, Poe also wrote satires, humor tales, and hoaxes. For comic effect, he used irony and ludicrous extravagance, often in an attempt to liberate the reader from cultural conformity.
This week's questions:
-As popular genres in both Poe's time, and present-day, why do you think macabre, horror, and mystery stories appeal to audiences?
-Have you read any of Edgar Allan Poe's works? Which one is your favorite?
We also welcome any other discussion or comments about Edgar Allan Poe or his works.
If you have another author you'd like to see a discussion on, please leave it in the comments below for a chance to be featured in a future chapter!
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/edgar-allan-poe
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edgar-Allan-Poe