Poe

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.