美国文学史Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe(1809~1849)

A poet, short story writer, and literary critic

I have great faith in fools -- my friends call it self-confidence. All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.Edgar Allan Poe

A sketch of his life Born on January 19, 1809, Boston A short life of poverty, anxiety and fantastic tragedy Died in mysterious circumstances, in 1849

Reputation Master of the macabre Forerunner of the detective story, science fiction, horror fiction, psychoanalytic criticism and symbolism Aesthetic activist

Major works Poetry Short stories Literary theory

Poetry Tamberlane and Other Poems The Raven To Helen The City in the Sea

Short stories Detective (Ratiocination)Murders in the Rue Morgue The Purloined Letter

Horror (Gothic )The Fall of the House of Usher The Tell-TaleHeart Tell-Tale Heart

Literary theory The Philosophy of Composition The Poetic Principle

Themes in Poe’s works Death—predominant theme in Poe’s writing“Poe is not interested in anything alive. Everything in Poe’s writings is dead.”

Horror Negative thoughts of science

StyleTraditional, but not easy to read

Reception“the jingle man”

Emerson

“an enthusiasm for Poe is the mark of a decidedly primitive state of development”Henry James

Tennyson Bernard Shaw

“the greatest American genius” “the greatest journalistic critic of his time” “exquisitely refined” “complete works of art”

wrence, W.H.Auden, Stephane Mallarme, etc.

Influence and position His influence is world-wide in literature Arthur Conan Doyle French symbolists British Aestheticism “Art for Art’s Sake” T.S Eliot, William Faulkner Poe remains one of this country's finest and most influential writers. He stands alone, representing a category very difficult to pigeonhole.

Thank you!