Dark, dreary, and
dreadful, and alliteration filled, the works of Edgar Allan Poe are certainly
something else, and their contributions to the movements of early Romanticism
are undeniably large, but whether or not they’re really remarkable pieces of
literature or just scary stories to be told around a rather sophisticated
campfire is up for debate.
I bring this question up because the stories
and poems we've been reading have been filled with elements of fantasy and
horror, but very unclear plots and undefined aspects of traditional story. I
guess that in a way this unique trait about them is what makes them amazing, as
they really emphasize the key aspects of horror and imagination over the normal
styles of the time. This stylization goes hand in hand with the Romantic period
of American literature, and as is explained and heavily influenced by the life
of the author.
To get a deeper understanding of
his works, we need to get a deeper understanding of Poe. Edgar Allan Poe lived
a financially and emotionally difficult life, mostly on his own. He experienced
the frequent loss of loved ones and failure to find a stable career and
happiness. Such a tragic life would definitely lead to inspiration for his dark
tales, and would appear to give them much deeper meaning to both him and the
reader.
With this
in mind, my own evaluation of Poe’s works has changed quite a bit. Overlooking
their shallow depth with extraordinary detail is one thing, but the add on to
that depth greatly with a sense of background and context is something that
really enhances the reading experience to me, and makes me look at the stories
in a greater sense.