-
Essay / Analysis of Styles and Themes in the Writings of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was neglected as a writer during his lifetime, as were most writers of the time. All his writings are still studied and analyzed by almost all teachings related to literature. His themes differ throughout his writings, but all flow from the founding style of Poe's writings. Poe's life experiences impacted his works and shined through his articulate thought processes. Each writing has an underlying dark tone that adds suspense to the reading and captures the attention of the curious reader with each descriptive and entangling word used in every line of the writings. Poe's style is controversial among most scholars, a central style for which he is best known and on which all agree is Gothic. The transcendentalism and romanticism styles are also visible in certain elements of the writings. Poe otherwise remained aligned with the Gothic style but the themes of his stories differed between them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Most writers, like Herman Melville, wrote about the sea in virtually every work he produced. It was also common to have two titles for a literary work, which is not common in today's writing. Poe kept things quite simple in his moody temperament and conveyed his inner thoughts in every masterpiece he created. Every writer is different in their works and may write from their heart or imagination, but some argue that Poe wrote his works from his past experiences and projected his inner thoughts and beliefs onto the paper in front of him. He was true to himself and wanted to describe it in his writings. Poe was a critic of the writings of others, so he had to make sure his works were flawless. Poe was known for ignoring the events of his time and lived in his own existence. “Edgar Allan Poe, that strange genius of a hack writer, lived in a cocoon of torment so narcissistic that he was almost blind to the burgeoning American nation around him. him, and thus, perversely, became a mythic presence in the American literary consciousness. » Poe not only had the ability to create the setting and mood for the writer, but could also manipulate a given style into others, "The Gothic easily morphs into associated genres like horror, terror, macabre and mystery. Reading a work of Poe is almost supernatural, he was known for bringing words to life and immersing the reader in the events throughout the work. The themes he used in his plays ranged from love, impermanence and uncertainty, nature, imagination, despair, hope and the subconscious self that was not not known at the time before Freud marked the conscious, the subconscious and the id. He pioneered new genres that emerged from the original Gothic style, such as science fiction, detective stories, and other forms of Gothicism. Poe is best known for his short stories which proved so popular in courses abroad. , but Poe first began his career writing poetry. A poem by Poe, "'To Helen' is a three-stanza text that has been considered one of the most beautiful love poems in the English language." This poem was written by Poe about his first love from years past. She was thought to be the initial influence on Poe's poetic beginnings. Love being the theme of this short poem, describes the narrator's feelings towards Helen. Each line is so descriptive that the words become personified and bring a feelingof existence in each word. Helen was compared to a Greek God, “like those Nicene barkings of old…”. Helen is compared to other Greek deities and described in a beautiful and loving way that really shows the immense feelings towards this person. The poem begins with Helen being compared to beautiful things and how her beauty can apparently make a wanderer seem like one now. arrived at destination. The narrator talks about rough seas and a meaningless voyage until Helen becomes part of it. Hélène's beauty is described as a drawing: "Your airs of Niad brought me home...". Niads were mythical creatures known to lure sailors to their watery graves. Helen's beauty attracts the "weary and worn wanderer..." as Poe says in this play. When Helen is spotted, it's like being home again rather than being aimlessly abroad. This poem gave an insight into the amount of love obtained for a person and the impact that love could have on a person. A popular writing by Poe, "Two stories, 'Ligeia' and 'The Fall of the House of Usher,' both published in 1839, clearly show Poe's continued reliance on classical values and themes." Ligeia had an underlying theme, love, although it was not the central focus of the play. Other themes used by Poe and predominant in "The Fall of the House of Usher" were madness, which was used often, fear, and the use of imagination. Poe seemed to be trying to make his writings a mystery that the reader had to solve as they read. Each sentence leaves suspense for the next, making it more engaging to read. In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Poe paints the scene with words in the first sentence that set the bleak tone of the story. As the narrator rides into the Usher house, he states: "I looked at the scene before me - at the simple house and the simple features of the landscape of the estate - at the dark walls - at the empty eye-like windows - at some coarse sedges - and on some white trunks of rotten trees - with a total depression of soul which I cannot compare to any earthly sensation more properly than to the after-dream of the reveler under opium - the bitter fall into everyday life - the hideous fall of the veil. Poe activates the imagination by describing this eccentric and dark residence for the reader to imagine. It mixes the activation of imagination and mystery with fear because the narrator himself was tired of this spectacle. The narrator once knew the head bailiff, Roderick, so he knew in his mind that there was no plausible explanation for his internal feelings about the estate. The narrator knew something was wrong in the house. Perhaps if the descriptive explanation of the place or people does not expose the theme of fear, one aspect is obvious that all are generally afraid of, the unknown. The narrator is informed by Roderick that Roderick's sister is dealing with an unknown illness that is also striking. the mysterious aspect of the situation. The narrator states that he has known Roderick for many years but knew very little about the man. Mystery is used throughout the story without the narrator's host knowing. The reader can also feel the claustrophobic feeling that comes with reading, as it seems like everyone is trapped between horrible walls, unaware of what is going to happen. Inevitable closeness is used in two aspects: the actual confinement of the house and, metaphorically, to describe the closeness of family when it is discovered that the Usher lineage has been internalized without any extended branches in the family tree. The decrepit state of the decaying establishment is also usedsimultaneously to describe the crumbling foundations of the family, since only two bailiffs remain. This information relays the mystery of the house and leaves the reader to imagine why this would happen or be normalized within a family as it is a strange occurrence. As the days passed, the sister died and was buried below in the house among the other graves. This sight arouses even more fear as the narrator descends and describes the bowels of the mysterious dwelling. The sister, who was previously considered dead and had been buried, came out of her fake grave because she was not in fact dead. “Crazy! I TELL YOU SHE'S NOW WITHOUT A DOOR!” (Poé 2485). Another fear and paranormal event as the sister stands before them, alive, even though it was known that she was put in the subterranean tombs Fear and horror fill the story's waning ending and grab the reader's attention: "Mr. Poe's obvious and most important aim is originality, either of idea or of the combination of ideas” (Freeland). Poe was quite capable of intensifying a simple theme so that it could be grasped physically as well as mentally. Poetry is a world that knows no limits. Some poems rhyme. , others do not. It is a style of freedom that can restrain any idea that the writer may have. It is the only form of writing that can be free and does not restrict any idea or imagination that visits it. It is a beautiful form of writing that allows for expression by all. An easier reading of Poe's literature is "Sonnet-To Science". It is a sonnet that differs from other works. It lacks the expositional factors of love, fear, or any additional themes Poe used as a tool. Poetry is made for the imagination and the use of whatever the writer desires to use. Poe asserts that science inhibits this for the poet. Science takes away imagination and freedom of writing as he states: “Science! You are a true girl from the Old Times! Who alters all things with your searching eyes” (Poe 2529). Science is constantly evolving and Poe lived in a time of Revolution where science was becoming more prevalent in discoveries abroad. The advancement of times ruined the creativity necessary for writing poetry. Poetry was a way for writers and readers to escape the inevitable corruption that the world foreshadowed through its cruel and unstoppable events of war and the division of nations. Poe was unhappy with the science in the sonnet because he believed it could ultimately strangle art as it was. This piece is another example of how Poe can master any theme he wants to implement in his works. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Although short stories are the first destination the mind goes to when remembering Poe, poetry was also there. Poe originated many ideas and styles during his years of writing and projected his earlier experiences into his work. Poe wrote in such a way that each word was given a personified existence. Some writings might make the heart beat and others might break it. Poe's play on the senses set him apart from most and popularized his many stories and poems. Poe laid the foundation for many ways of thinking today, ranging from film production to writing production. Writings of the time could become monotonous because the same theme overlapped in the story. Although Poe is well known for his dark and macabre work, his themes differ greatly in his arsenal..