Post # 7

Possible thesis # 1: Poe was a mad man with a reputation as an intelegent literary critic. His writings reflect the extremities to which his death and love obsessed mind were pushed.

During his time, Poe was most noted as being a literary critic. Through examining his works one easily finds that Poe is well educated, well read, and articulate. His writings in the science fiction genre, such as the two short stories "The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfall" and "The Balloon-Hoax" show both depth in research and creativity. But that creativity stemmed from a dark past haunted by the death of a young wife. Poe was able to write so well, blending complicated subtle text with vivid fictictious characters, naught because of genius, but because of his mourning thoughts of death and love.

Possible thesis # 2: Poe was meerly a writer. His writings are not reflective of his life, but that of his own creative genius, and the times.

Poe was most recognized as a literary critic in his time. Many say that his writings were reflective, some say completley derived from, the death of his cousin/wife; but Poe's creative genius was the true engine behind his works. The Raven, arguable Poe's most famouse peice of writting, was actually written before his wife died. Published two full years before her death, this poem could not have been written about her. Further proof comes in the way of multiple routes. Poe wrote stories on topics other than death, "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Premature Burial" both have 'happy' endings, as well as the fact that Poe's essays, satires, and litarary criticisms reveal the true nature of his creative genius.

I've read all poems and ten stories.

The Masque of Red Death: A huge, like year long, sucleded party is thrown. A masqueraid is held, and to it comes a man bearing the red death.
(5)
The Oval Portrait: A man reads of a most life like portrait, only to find out that its obsessed painter locked up his wife to create the masterpeice; but in the end paid more attention to his canvass than to his dying wife
(3)