Edgar Allan Poe------ Early American Literature
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Edgar Allan Poe------ Early American Literature
Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of the most gifted writers in early American literature, a master of horror tale and patron saint of detective story, who is best known for his poems, critical reviews and short fiction, which have some unique elements and even have influenced many famous writers after him. He virtually creates the detective story and perfects the psychological thriller. In a word, he has contributed a lot to American literature and has had a worldwide influence on literature.
As a matter of fact, Poe’s life was full of twists and turns. He was born in Boston, Jan. 19.1809, died on Oct. 7 1849 in Baltimore. In his early years, deserted by his father and orphaned by his mother, he lived a difficulty life and died only at age of 40. But he was a prolific writer who had written 70 stories and 30 poems in all his life. Even today the literary legacy he left still was very popular and much enjoyed.
Poe’s works and his theory of “pure poetry” were early recognized especially in France, where he inspired Jules Verne. In American, Emerson called him “the jingle man”. Poe’s influence is seen in many other modern writers, as in Junichiro Tanizaki’s early stories and Kobo Abe’s novels or more clearly in the development of the 19th century detective novel.
In fact, Poe shows special preference to some themes relating to the weird and the supernatural in his works. In his supernatural fiction, Poe usually deals with paranoia rooted in personal psychology, physical or mental enfeeblement without bothering himself with such supernatural beings as ghost, vampires and so on. He plays much attention to analyzing people’s psychological activity, especial the inner conflict. William Wilson, one of his famous stories, is a typical example that can reflect this kind of struggle. The author plays two roles, in other words, there are two William Wilsons in this story, who have the same names, same...
Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of the most gifted writers in early American literature, a master of horror tale and patron saint of detective story, who is best known for his poems, critical reviews and short fiction, which have some unique elements and even have influenced many famous writers after him. He virtually creates the detective story and perfects the psychological thriller. In a word, he has contributed a lot to American literature and has had a worldwide influence on literature.
As a matter of fact, Poe’s life was full of twists and turns. He was born in Boston, Jan. 19.1809, died on Oct. 7 1849 in Baltimore. In his early years, deserted by his father and orphaned by his mother, he lived a difficulty life and died only at age of 40. But he was a prolific writer who had written 70 stories and 30 poems in all his life. Even today the literary legacy he left still was very popular and much enjoyed.
Poe’s works and his theory of “pure poetry” were early recognized especially in France, where he inspired Jules Verne. In American, Emerson called him “the jingle man”. Poe’s influence is seen in many other modern writers, as in Junichiro Tanizaki’s early stories and Kobo Abe’s novels or more clearly in the development of the 19th century detective novel.
In fact, Poe shows special preference to some themes relating to the weird and the supernatural in his works. In his supernatural fiction, Poe usually deals with paranoia rooted in personal psychology, physical or mental enfeeblement without bothering himself with such supernatural beings as ghost, vampires and so on. He plays much attention to analyzing people’s psychological activity, especial the inner conflict. William Wilson, one of his famous stories, is a typical example that can reflect this kind of struggle. The author plays two roles, in other words, there are two William Wilsons in this story, who have the same names, same...