The Dark Genius Of The Short Story free essay sample

Essay, Research Paper Many writers have made great parts to the universe of literature. Mark Twain introduced Americans to life on the Mississippi. Jack London told of the bravery of many on the Alaskan Frontier. Another writer that made an influence on literature is Edgar Allan Poe. Poe is known as the male parent of the American short narrative. To understand the literary parts of Edgar Allan Poe, one must look at his early life, his literary life, and a sum-up of two of his celebrated plants. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1809 ( Stern xi ) . He was born to a southern household that was in a going company of histrions ( Marks 2 ) . His male parent, David Poe, was from a Baltimore household. He was an histrion by profession but his household would state he made a calling out of imbibing, non moving. Soon after Edgar Allan Poe was born, he left his household. We will write a custom essay sample on The Dark Genius Of The Short Story or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Poe # 8217 ; s female parent, Elizabeth Arnold Poe, was a widow at the age of 18 ( Porges 32 ) . Two old ages after his birth, she died of TB ( Stern xi ) . When his female parent died, Poe was adopted by John Allan ( Stern xi ) at the goad of Mr. Allan # 8217 ; s married woman. In 1815, John Allan moved his household to England. While at that place, Poe was sent to private schools which he described as dark, antediluvian, mazes ( Stern, Edgar Allen Poe Visitor for the Night of Time 42 ) . In the spring of 1826, Poe entered the University of Virginia. There he studied Spanish, Gallic, Italian, and Latin. He had an first-class pedant record, but he got into troubles about at one time. Mr. Allan did non supply him with the money to pay for his fees and other necessities. Poe was confused and homesick. He learned to play cards and started imbibing. Soon he was in debt over two thousand dollars. Poe discovered that he could notClint Fiore 2 depend upon Allan for fiscal support. His Foster male parent refused to pay his debts, and Poe had to retreat from the University ( Haines 62 ) . In May of 1827, Poe enlisted in the ground forces as a common soldier. He did this under the name of Edgar A. Perry ( Porges 43 ) . He was stationed on Sullivan # 8217 ; s Island in Charleston Harbor for over a twelvemonth. Poe adapted really good to military subject and rapidly rose to the rank of regimental sergeant major. After a piece, he got tired of the same day-to-day modus operandi involved in military life. Poe wrote on a regular basis to Mr. Allan. He met with Mr. Allan after the decease of Mrs. Allan in February of 1829. With Allan # 8217 ; s support, he received his discharge and enlisted in West Point on July 1, l830 ( Stern xii ) . While at West Point, Mr. Allan, who had remarried, continued in non supplying Poe with adequate money. Poe decided to hold himself kicked out of school. Cuting categories and ignoring orders were his solutions ( Porges 44 ) . He was court-martialed for disregard of responsibilities in January, 1831, and left West Point the following month ( Stern xii ) . Poe was great in three different Fieldss, and in each 1 he made a repute that would give any adult male a high topographic point in literary history. Poe wrote great short narratives, celebrated non merely in his ain state, but all over the universe ( Stern, Edgar Allen Poe Visitor from the Night of Time 12 ) . Hawthorne, Irving, Balzac, Bierce, Crane, Hemingway and other authors have given us memorable short narratives ; but none has produced so great a figure of celebrated and unforgettable illustrations, so many narratives that continue, Clint Fiore 3 despite altering criterions to be read and reprinted once more and once more throughout the universe ( Porges 15 ) . Poe was the male parent of the modern short narrative, and the modern detective narrative ( Porges 19 ) . In 1831, Poe succeeded in printing a new edition of his verse form entitled, Poems. Poe was now in great trouble. He went to New York, but could happen no occupation at that place. Finally he took safety with his aunt, Mrs. Clemm, in Baltimore. There he decided to seek employment and do his life by composing. Failing to acquire attending with his verse forms, he decided to get down composing short narratives. Poe competed in a competition for the best short narrative in 1831 ( Stern xii ) . The award was offered by Phil-Saturday Courier. Because he did non win the award, Poe started on an ambitious undertaking. He decided to be after a series of narratives told by members of a literary group. He found no publishing house for his narratives, and entered the competition once more in June of 1835. This timehe sent one verse form and six narratives ( Porges 46 ) . His narrative, # 8 220 ; Ms. Found in a Bottle, # 8221 ; won, and he received one hundred dollars for it ( Porges 46 ) . Through the influence of one of the Judgess, John P. Kennedy, Poe became employed as an editor of the Southern Literary Messenger, published in Richmond ( Stern xiii ) . Under Poe # 8217 ; s editorship, the Messenger # 8217 ; s circulation rose from 500 to 3500. While in Richmond, Poe married his cousi n, Virginia, who was non rather 14 old ages old. Poe was fired from the Messenger in January of 1837 ( austere twelve ) . Poe so went to New York, where he was unsuccessful. In the summer of 1838, he moved to Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia, he worked as the editor of both Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine and Graham’s Magazine ( Stern xii ) . Even though he won a one hundred dollar award for â€Å"The Gold Bug† ( Porges 47 ) , he moved to New York. Poe found a occupation in New York as an helper editor for the Evening Mirror. This was where â€Å"The Raven† foremost appeared on January 29, 1845. The verse form instantly caught the imaginativeness of the public andClint Fiore 4 was reprinted all over the state and even abroad in all sorts of newspapers and magazines, but Poe pocketed merely a few dollars for his verse form ( Marks 2 ) . The twelvemonth of 1845 was a lucky twelvemonth for Poe. He published a aggregation of his Tales and an edition of his verse form named The Raven and Other Poems. He besides became the editor of the hebdomadal Broadway Journal. Poe broke down when Virginia died in January of 1848 ( Porges 49 ) . In 1849, Poe died in Baltimore ( Stern xiv ) . Alternatively of truly living, he took safety from the physical universe in the private universe of his dreams-in other words-in the universe of his narratives ( Marks 2 ) . # 8221 ; In the # 8220 ; Masque of the Red Death # 8221 ; , Poe uses his imaginativeness throughout the narrative. A pestilence has devastated the full state. It takes merely half an hr for the disease to run it? s class. At first one feels crisp strivings and giddiness. Then one starts shed blooding at the pores. The disease consequences in decease. Prince Prospero has ordered one 1000 Godheads and ladies to the deep privacy of one of his abbeys. The edifice was built by the Prince and is filled with his alien decorations. It is sealed from the outside universe by a immense wall with Fe Gatess. Inside the edifice are terpsichoreans, instrumentalists, and everything they need in order to remain secluded until the pestilence runs its class. After six months of privacy, the Prince decides to keep a cloaked ball. The ball is held in a suite with seven suites. Each room is decorated in a individual colour. The last room is decorated in ruddy. Within this room stands a immense clock that strikes the hr with a heavy clank. The suites are really crowded for the ball. At the shot of midnight, a invitee is seen in a costume of the ruddy decease itself and this frightens the other invitees. ThePrince is angered at what he believes to be a practical gag. He orders the alien seized and hanged from the c renelations. Prince Prospero follows the alien into the ruddy chamber. It is at that place that Prince Prospero falls dead at the pess of the alien. The others capture the unknown individual in the costume. To their horror they find there is no populating signifier in the costume. One by one they die until no 1 else remains. Death is king of all ( Porges 85 ) . The horrorClint Fiore 5 abysmal darkness, and absolute weakness bechancing the victims are described with graphic truth in narratives such as? The Fall of the House of Usher, ? ? The Cask of Amontillado, ? and? The Premature Burial? ( Marks 4 ) . # 8221 ; In # 8220 ; The Fall of the House of Usher, # 8221 ; the storyteller visits his insane friend, Roderick Usher. Usher # 8217 ; s house is immense and glooming. His twin sister, Madeline, gets ill and dies. The storyteller and Usher topographic point her in a grave in the cellar of Usher # 8217 ; s house. What they do non recognize is that she is still hardly alive. Usher keeps on hearing sounds over the following twosome of yearss. The 7th twenty-four hours after Madeline # 8217 ; s decease, a bad storm appears. The storyteller and Usher open the door of the storyteller # 8217 ; s room and Madeline falls on Usher. They both die. The storyteller so leaves the house. As he rides off, the house collapses to the floor ( Haines 21 ) . The Dark Genius of the Short Story Clint FioreE2Pre-Ap-8December 2, 1998 Clint FioreE2Pre-AP8December 2, 1998 The Dark Genius of the Short StoryThesis Sentence: To understand Poe? s parts to the fullest, we must look at his life, literary calling, and a sum-up of two of his celebrated plants. I. Early Life of Edgar Allen PoeII. Literary Career of Edgar Allen PoeIII. Hagiographas of Edgar Allen PoeA. ? Masque of the Red Death? B. ? Fall of the House of Usher? Clint FioreE2Pre-AP8December 2, 1998 BibliographyHaines, Charles. Edgar Allen Poe His Hagiographas and Influence. New York: Franklin Watts Inc. , 1947. Marks, Thomas. Poe, American Poet. hypertext transfer protocol: www.epoeindextml. April 6, 1996. Porges, Irwin. Edgar Allen Poe. Philadelphia: Chilton Books, 1963. Stern, Philip Van Doren. Edgar Allen Poe. New York: The Viking Press, 1945. Stern, Philip Van Doren. Edgar Allen Poe Visitor from the Night of Time. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co. , 1973.