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The Peculiar Edgar Allan Poe

Decent Essays

“Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether mad is or is not the loftiest intelligence—whether much that is glorious—whether all that is profound—does not spring from disease of thought—from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect” (Poe); these are the words of a man born on January 19, 1809. As a child Poe’s parents had passed on making him an orphan. He then went on to live with the family of John Allan who was originally from Richmond, Virginia. During the period of 1815-1820, the family migrated to England. Living in England was beneficial to Poe for the reason that he gained his gothic style that appears so frequently in his work from this area. Although prior to his success challenges …show more content…

A commentator who read the poem revealed his thoughts by declaring that, “The undeniable power of ‘The Raven’ comes from the inexplicable, overwhelming sorrow at the heart of the poem, conveyed through the narrator’s theatrical passion, grief, and finally, insane desperation” (Edwards 3). This statement was clearly brought to life when Poe published and released “The Raven” in 1845 which brought money rolling in to help support him with health and economic issues. On the other hand what made the poem so alluring to people was the traumatic effect it had on readers. It left many folks in a cold stiff alarmed by what their mind had just consumed and the haunting repetitive background didn't bring any source of comfort either. The last stanza of “The Raven” stated that, “And the Raven never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting / On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; / And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming, / And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; / And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor / Shall be lifted—nevermore!” (Poe 103-108), immediately the satanic cadence is brought forth through the vivid descriptions Poe uses. Additionally, reading the poem and listening to a recorded

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