Purloined Letter

881 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of the raven edgar allan poe

A Critical Analysis of “The Purloined Letter” by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe’s background influenced him to write the short story “The
Purloined Letter”. One important influence on the story is that Poe seem to feel inferior to his class mates while in college, which may have been why he wrote Dupin to be seen as superior to his colleagues. While at the University of Virginia he owed others high amounts of money because of gambling, he would drink excessively to help hide his feelings of inadequacy. (Taylor) The second influence on this short story I believe is Poe’s extent in the United States Army. He time in the military was unsuccessful. Because of his experience he made the Perfect of the police a little lacking in intelligence. This background, together with a believable plot, convincing characterization, and important literary devices, enables Edgar Allan Poe in “The Purloined Letter” to develop the them that characteristic of the human animal to overlook the obvious.
This story does not have a surprise ending nor does is really have a sense of suspense. You know from the beginning who took the letter, but you do not know what information was contained in the letter and how that information would have affect the queen. The only surprise may be in where the letter was keep throughout the story, in plain site. The Perfect of the police searched the Minister’s lodgings many nigh...

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Masque of the Red Death and Hop Frog

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    The manner in which Poe addresses the topic of class differences and the struggle for power with his fictional characters resounds of his own struggles in his personal life. However, unlike in Hop Frog and the Masque of the Red Death, he was never himself able to emerge wholly victorious over his adversaries, including the publishing industry. In addition, Poe’s characters appear to hint that while wealth may be the source of power for many, the correct use of information itself is the surest path to the acquisition of power.

    Read More

  • The Red Badge of Courage and The Blue Hotel

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    The third letter opens to the heart of the correspondence on Crane's side, as he begins in earnest to try and make Mrs.

    Read More

  • Jackie Robinson

    1467 Words  | 3 Pages

    He was then drafted into the U.S. Army where he was refused admission to the Officer Candidate School. He fought this until he was finally accepted and graduated as a first lieutenant. He was in the Army from 1941 until 1944 and was stationed in Kansas and Fort Hood, Texas. While stationed in Kansas he worked with a boxer named Joe Louis in order to fight unfair treatment towards African-Americans in the military and when training in Fort Hood, Texas he refused to go to the back of the public bus and was court-martialed for insubordination. Because of this he never made it to Europe with his unit and in 1944 he received an honorable discharge.

    Read More

  • The two characters of Ruby and Ada are brought to the reader of Cold

    1469 Words  | 3 Pages

    a passage from the letter she is writing to add a personal feel to the

    Read More

  • A Pair Of Tickets

    1395 Words  | 3 Pages

    This story is both a mystery and a suspense with in a way a tragically happy ending. By

    Read More

  • What Is Poe's Mood In Letter To John American

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    Poe believes he can make John feel guilty and he will send him the money. In the third letter Poe portrays a pitiful mood. He writes statements such as, “If you knew at this moment how wretched I am you would never forgive yourself for having refused me.” He then writes, “Sickness and misfortune have left me not a shadow of pride. I own that I am miserable and unworthy of your notice, but do not leave me to perish without leaving me still one resource,” and, “I am suffering every extremity of want and misery without ever a chance to escape, or a friend to whom I can look up to for assistance.

    Read More

  • The Use of Symbolism in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    first some type of mystery, but as we read the ending we realize that it is

    Read More

  • The Tell Tale Heart Literary Analysis

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article, “The Question of Poe’s Narrators” James W. Gargano discusses the criticize in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe and tries to help the readers understand why Poe writes the way he does and identifies some of the quotes in his work. According, to Gargano, other authors view’s Poe’s work as “cheap or embarrassing Gothic Style” (177). The author is saying that Poe’s work makes the reader look at themselves not only the work. The author explores three main points. Some author thinks that Poe’s life is reflected in a lot of his work, uses dramatic language to show his style in work, and explains how Poe’s work manipulates his readers to understand.

    Read More

  • Symbolism and Irony in The Tell-Tale Heart

    2255 Words  | 5 Pages

    " Twentieth Century Interpretations of Poe's Tales. ED. William L. Howarth, b. 1875. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1971. 94. - 102. - 102.

    Read More

  • Symbolism and analysis of "The Fall of the House of Usher"

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomson, Gary Richard, and Poe Edgar. The selected writings of Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Norton & Company, 2004

    Read More

  • Essay On Edgar Allan Poe

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting poems and morbid stories will be read by countless generations of people from many different countries, a fact which would have undoubtedly provided some source of comfort for this troubled, talented yet tormented man. His dark past continued to torture him until his own death. These torturous feelings were shown in many of his works. A tragic past, consisting of a lack of true parents and the death of his wife, made Edgar Allan Poe the famous writer he is today, but it also led to his demise and unpopularity.

    Read More

  • Edgar Allan Poe

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ljungquist, Kent. Poe, Edgar Allan. Ed. Paul A. Kobasa. P.15. Chicago: Scott Fetzer company, 2012.

    Read More

  • Moral Insanity In Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart

    1431 Words  | 3 Pages

    The short story is generally a study in human terror. Furthermore, the author explains Poe use of a particular style and technique, to not only create the mood of mystery, but to cause the reader to feel sympathy for the narrator. Poe makes a connection between the storyteller and reader with knowledge and literary craftsmanship.

    Read More

  • Use Of Complex Literary Devices In Edgar Allan Poe's The Purloined Letter

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “The Purloined Letter,” Edgar Allan Poe’s use of complex literary devices reveals his unique writing style. These literary devices include: allusions, metaphors, irony, foreshadowing events, and a detailed exposition. In the very beginning of the short story, Poe provides the reader with information about the setting and timing of the story. This aids the reader to clearly identify what exactly takes place. Poe, known perhaps more for his grotesque and gothic short stories, wrote detective and mystery short stories as well. Within one of his most famous detective short stories, “The Purloined Letter,” Poe illustrates the theme of logic and cleverness to prove the essential nature of intelligence and detail.

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Killers by Hemingway

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    The ending of the story is very effective as a cliff hanger. No one knows

    Read More

More about Purloined Letter

Open Document