What Are The Similarities Between Edgar Allan Poe And Roald Dahl

Edgar Allen Poe and Roald Dahl have many similarities and differences. For starters, Poe and Dahl both have a dark history that can shine through in their writing. When Edgar was a little boy, he lost everyone who was close to him. He was convinced he had a curse that killed all the women he ever loved. His writing reflects his past in every way. “The Tell Tale Heart” really shows how his childhood has changed him into the writer he came to be. The short story starts out very tense. Poe states in the first paragraph, “nervous --very, very, dreadfully nervous I had been and am.” This quote gives the story a very dark tone right away. Dahl also lost his father and sister when they both fell ill. This did not affect Dahl as much as the deaths

affected Poe because Dahl still had his mother. Dahl’s mother was by his side throughout his whole life. She would always read him folktales when he was kid which inspired his children books. His writing would have darkness hidden throughout the book but would mostly have an upbeat tone. In paragraph seven of “The Landlady”, Dahl states cheerfully, “Downstairs window brilliantly illuminated by a street lamp not six yards away, Billy caught site of a printed notice in the glass of the upper pane.” This gives the story a joyous tone. Another difference about the two is that Edgar Allen Poe stuck with short stories and poems like The Raven, “The Tale of Mystery and Horror,” and “The Tell Tale Heart,” the story I read. On the other hand, Roald Dahl wrote mostly children's books and a couple short stories. Some of these books are Matilda, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, and The Twits. As I stated above, these stories were all upbeat and appropriate for children, but darkness is hidden in the shadows. The two authors style was very different but clearly, they also have many similarities, also.