Edgar Allen Poe is one of the most famous gothic and horror writers ever known. He practically invented the gothic literature genre and his most known works, ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ and ‘The Raven’, have changed how people look at short stories forever. And it doesn’t stop there, he’s influenced multiple genres like science fiction, detective and whodunit stories. Overall, it’s clear that Poe has changed literature forever.
Gothic Literature And Poe
Poe’s macabre tales are a staple of gothic literature. He had a mastery of all aspects of gothic fiction; dark and descriptive scenery, his use of fear as the main catalyst in almost all his stories, a underlining tone of supernatural elements and, albeit dark, with a touch of romance. His stories ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ and ‘Murder in the Rue Morgue’ highlight his talent extremely well. This paragraph from ThoughtCo. explains the influence of Poe amazingly:
“The supernatural elements in the story, though, launched a whole new genre, which took off in Europe. Then America’s Edgar Allen Poe got ahold of it in the mid-1800s and succeeded like no one else. In Gothic literature, he found a place to explore psychological trauma, the evils of man, and mental illness. Any modern-day zombie story, detective story, or Stephen King novel owes a debt to Poe. There may have been successful Gothic writers before and after him, but no one perfected the genre quite like Poe.”
His Influence On Other Authors
As mentioned in the quote above Poe has affected a lot of our current literature. From H. P. Lovecraft to Stephen King to Ambrose Bierce, many authors have drawn inspiration from Poe and his imaginative storytelling. Being crowned “the originator of both horror and detective fiction” it isn’t a surprise so many writers have looked to his writing for inspiration and guidance. Undoubtedly his work will continue to teach, inspire and terrify people for years to come.
Annabel Lee, One of His Most Famous Poems
In 1849 Poe’s poem Annabel Lee was published in the New York Tribune, two days after his death. It is a tale depicting a beautiful young woman who, unsurprisingly, dies. While this may be one of his shortest poems it is one of my favorites for its simplicity (which makes the story even more chilling) and how his words paint a picture in your mind but, most importantly, for the love that Poe clearly depicts for the woman who he calls Annabel Lee. It is theorized that when he speaks of Annabel Lee he is actually talking about his wife (and cousin…) Virginia who died only a few years prior. Annabel Lee is truly a staple in poetry and everyone should read it at least once in their life.
All in all Edgar Allan Poe is an amazingly talented writer, poet and literary critic. He has rocked the foundations of the world of literature and still continues to do so as he lives on in our awe and stories.