Literary Merit

The 1800’s are a fascinating time to study. It was a time of transition, the beginning of our modern world. A lot of inventions, ideas and concepts were developed during these years that have led to the world we enjoy today. Electricity, indoor plumbing, the printing press, the telephone, the typewriter, and motion pictures, all these and more were products of the 1800’s. Writers were prolific and the art of penmanship truly seemed to have come alive during this era. Many of the best classics are from this time period: Charles Dickens, Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and, of course, Edgar Allan Poe. Seen as the “architect of the modern short story,” Poe had a profound and lasting impact on the literary world.

The academic essay, Edgar Allan Poe Pathologically, was absorbing to read. I’ve often felt the same way the author describes Poe, as though my thoughts were consuming me. My brain never seems to be still, instead it is always striding down one avenue just to come upon a side street that it is drawn down. It becomes wearisome, sometimes. I can see how this might lead Poe to drink, to slow down the constant stream of his thoughts. Having suffered so much hardship in his life, I’m sure Poe’s thoughts were often depressing and distressing. It is sad that Poe couldn’t find a healthier alternative to alcohol and drugs.

Reading Poe’s writing is still enlightening today. Digging deeply into the depths of another person’s thoughts can show us ways of dealing with life and with our own problems. One way Poe dealt with the hardships he endured in life was through his writing. I have often found that when I am troubled, writing helps clear my thoughts and brings clarity when I am confused about a topic. I see Poe’s writing as a type of therapy, a diary in poetic form. Three poems that display this the best are: To Helen, Lenore, and The Raven.

Works Cited:

Edgar Allan Poe. (No date given). Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/edgar-allan-poe

Bellis, M. (2017, November). "Most Important Inventions of the 19^th Century." Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/inventions-nineteenth-century-4144740

McNamara, R. (2017, November). "Notable Authors of the 19^th Century." Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/notable-authors-of-the-19th-century-1773693

Yewdale, M. (1920). "Edgar Allan Poe, Pathologically." The North American Review, 212(780), 686-696. Retrieved from http://0-www.jstor.org.library.acaweb.org/stable/25151120