Gothic Literature and the Writings of Edgar Allan Poe

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There is one known very influential writing style called Gothic Literature. It is not only considered to involve the horror or gothic element but is combined with romance, superstition, women in distress, omens, portents, vision and supernatural events to name a few (Beesly). The history and beginning of this era is not well known. From a few writers came this writing style that has impacted the world. A famous artists known for this type of writing is a man named Edgar Allan Poe. He wrote many short stories and poems that include horror, gothic, and romance just mentioned. Gothic Tradition was said to have started in Europe. Gothicism came from the Romanticism in the early 19th century (Book Rags). Two people who are said to have started the gothic writing movement are Ann Radcliffe and Horace Walpole. They started this style with their stories: “The Mysteries of Udolpho” and “The Castle of Otranto” (Book Rags). The gothic movement also came about because it was related to the art and architecture during the Renaissance era. Edgar Allan Poe three main elements romance, horror, and supernatural events are used in his short stories and poems. A few of his most famous short stories are “The Raven”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Tell-tale Heart”, “The Black Cat”, “Eleonora”, and “Annabelle Lee” (Book Rags). Some of his writing is dark and gloomy while others have romance and comedy. The first element Edgar used the most in his short stories is horror. Horror is an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by something frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting. As you are reading his poems his description often make so that you begin to feel the pain and sorrow that is happening. In his story “The Fall of the House o... ... middle of paper ... ... ed., Questia, Web, 29 May 2010. 2. "King, Stephen," The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., Questia, Web, 29 May 2010. 3. Jack Morgan, The Biology of Horror: Gothic Literature and Film (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2002) null03, Questia, Web, 29 May 2010. 4. Michael Gamer, Romanticism and the Gothic: Genre, Reception, and Canon Formation (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2000) 15, Questia, Web, 29 May 2010. 5. Joseph Stark, "Motive and Meaning: The Mystery of the Will in Poe's "The Black Cat"," The Mississippi Quarterly 57.2 (2004), Questia, Web, 29 May 2010. 6. http://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm 7. http://www.litgothic.com/Authors/poe.html 8. http://www.squidoo.com/spradlinshot 9. http://www.poestories.com/ 10. http://www.bookrags.com/notes/poe/PART3.html 11. http://www.theromantic.com/poetryclassic/annabellelee.htm

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