The Big Red by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe had a peculiar way with his work. He was adopted early in his life to be spared from poverty and heartache (Roberts and Zweig 226). But in the Big Read it is stated that he still felt a satisfaction from women’s suffering. Poe just wanted to be a writer and followed his passion into judging others work to support himself (Roberts and Zweig 226). Some say that he is selfish and indulgent. Sadly the death of Poe is still a mystery but his works affect people’s lives on a daily basis. The elegance of Poe’s prose invokes an emotional reaction he was subject to during his childhood that later led to the creation of the most influential works of the 19th Century.

Events of his childhood are surely responsible for some of his questionably beautiful actions. In an excerpt dedicated to Poe by Roberts and Zweig we learn that he claimed his middle initial from Francis Allan. The excerpt gives more information about the matter saying that the Allan’s rescue young Poe from the foster care system after his mother dies before he turns three. His mother travels as a performer toting Poe and his siblings from show to show. The anthology goes on to say that after he was a cadet at West Point he would become estranged from the Allan’s. Poe took on editorships to support himself (Roberts and Zweig 226).

In the article entitled, "Poe’s Calling Card," it says that, “when the poem you are reading features death (especially deceased women), an elaborate rhyme, and mournful language … you’re dealing with Poe.” Stating that Poe enjoys writing stories of depressed men … pining for the women who have abandoned them by dying.” Pointing out that this method is his calling card and he tries to inflict feelings of depression upon the reader. Th...

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...uty to the things people usually do not find appealing. Critics could say that he was indulgent and self-absorbed but it was those characteristics that made his beautiful work. The elegance of Poe’s prose invokes an emotional reaction he was subject to during his childhood that later led to the creation of the most influential works of the 19th Century.

Works Cited

“Essence.” Dictionary.com. 2014. Web. 21 April 2014.

Jackson, Kevin. “The great bad writer.” Prospect Magazine. 22 Feb 2012. Web. 20 April 2014.

“Poe’s Theory of Poetry.” The Big Read. Handout One. N.d.. 16. Web. 19 April 2014.

Roberts, Edgar V., and Robert Zweig, Editors. Literature: An Introduction to Read and Writing. 5th Compact ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 226. Print.

Shmoop Editorial Team. “Edgar Allan Poe’s Calling Card.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., n.d.. Web. 20 April 2014.