What do you think of Edgar Allan Poe?

Question

I'll tell you what I think -- I adore him. I think I'll write my thesis on him! First I have to dig him up, though, and find a pen that works on bones...

But I digress. What do you think of Poe?

Answer 1

Some of this, some of that. Like most revolutionary minds, some of his work looks very dated now, very old hat. Some of his works created memes that other writers have used more effectively because they have the benefit of a long view over time.

But where he succeeds, he succeeds brilliantly. His insights into the human mind in its hours of darkness and discontent are unmatched. He was the first writer since Shakespeare, and certainly the first American writer, to really capture what it means to despair. And only a small handful have been able to approach his greatness since.

Answer 2

I love him so often their are repetent writers who use what others say change the words a little and inherent it as their own but edgar allen poe is a true visionary who gives new light to things we thought were long dead and others that we would never have thought of. My favorite is still a tell tale heart even though it is a story that has been repeated this one still holds true the moral and has not been lost in a sea of fancy writing. Edgar Allen Poe is a thoughtful and thought provoking writing and keeps me asking why? I love that all of his work isnt like rule of ryhme and actually tells a story instead of just ho hum.

Props to Poe

Answer 3

I think that Poe had some serious problems in his life. I think he was a depressed/possibly bipolar personality and he was an alcoholic and through all this...he wrote some amazing angst-ridden poems/stories that are haunting and fascinating. I love to read Poe though I feel sort of sorry for the man himself.

Answer 4

I love the lyricalness of Poe's poetry, especially his use of poetical techniques, such as, alliteration (words beginning with the same consonant) and assonance (words beginning with the same vowel sound.)

Though I appreciate his poetry. Poe was a much better critic than he was a poet. His short stories are certainly strange and spooky.

He should be a great topic for a thesis. Good luck!

Answer 5

His work is full expression of his personal feelings. It's been over 30years since I first read the Raven, I never forgot it. I keep a copy of Poe's Work on my favorite bookshelf.

Answer 6

Brilliant writer; he really broke new ground for American literature, creating the modern detective story, etcetera. The writer of Sherlock Holmes was inspired by Poe.

I just read 'Raven' and 'Fall of the House of Usher' in class. Love them both. He has a fantastic style. =)

Answer 7

poe is a genius and should never be forgotten. actually i want to be like him. i'm 15 and want to be a writer that is remembered like an edgar allen poe, but read like a harry potter.

Answer 8

I like his work, but I've always been more captivated by him as a person. He fascinates me. I've read tons of biographies about him. I even made a pilgrimage to Baltimore several years ago to his grave.

Oh, and my friend and I have celebrated January 19th (his birthday) as our annual Freakfest for about ten years now. We're weird, yeah.

Answer 9

he was a great dancer but couldnt sing worth a damn. that is why the raven did all the talking and all poe was concerned about was the beating, the beating, the beating of the heart. that is why lenore left him. she couldnt take his obsessive compulsion with things buried in walls and floors.

Answer 10

I think he is the greatist horror story author to walk the earth, but he's not right in the head, which makes him all the better