Setting
With the exception of “The Gold Bug” and “Murders in the Rue Morgue,” Poe’s settings are usually remote in time and space, enhancing the story’s […]
Month: November 2008
Themes and Characters
Except for a servant, a valet, and a family physician, who appear in the opening scenes and are never mentioned again, the characters of the […]
Literary Qualities
Poe’s literary skill is readily apparent in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” and one of his most vivid techniques is the story’s tone. […]
Social Sensitivity
Poe’s literary theory repeatedly stressed art for art’s sake, an idea somewhat removed from the era’s general literary belief that literature should teach or preach […]
Topics for Discussion
1. Poe precedes his stories with prefatory quotations that relate to theme and plot. Explain how de Beranger’s quotation applies to “The Fall of the […]
Ideas for Reports and Papers
1. After explaining Poe’s “single effect” theory, apply it to one or two of Poe’s other stories by narrowing the focus and concentrating on one […]
Related Titles
For a more comprehensive understanding of Poe’s literary philosophy, one should read his “Philosophy of Composition,” in which he discusses how he composed “The Raven” […]
About the Author
Raymond Douglas Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, Illinois, to Leonard Spaulding and Esther Moberg Bradbury. He began his writing career while […]