I began my search in 19th-century literature, a time great literary development in the United States. Writers like Washington Irving, Jane Austen and Walt Whitman were highlighted. Frankly, the Jane Austen style of romantic work bored me. Pride and Prejudice was not a novel I enjoyed. My search continued until the memory of exposure to some his work brought me to Edgar Allen Poe. In sixth grade, my class studied Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”. In reading that short story, the vivid imagery and characterization captivated me. Poe’s ability to capture the complex transcendence into madness in such an articulate manner was and still is astonishing. Not only have they resonated with me, the macabre works of Edgar Allan Poe have carried great influence in the progression of American literature. …show more content…
After the death of his foster mother, Poe began writing stories to secure an income. As one of the first to do so, he struggled greatly. Little known to his critics, the early American author had begun a new branch development of nineteenth century literature. With his dark, twisted fantasies Poe broke the archetypes of 19th century romanticism and symbolism. His fearless leap into the dark side of romanticism and literature has paved the way for the creation of so many genres today. He offers a fresh approach to writing and in doing so he addresses the dualities of existence: life and death, love and loneliness. His view of life in death and beauty were both unconventional and appealing. Poe forces his readers to ponder questions like, “Is there life in death?”, “What is beauty?”, “What are society’s standards for normalcy?”. His works also offer readers a look into the fine line between sanity and insanity of the mind. His strong descriptions and narrative skills attribute to his success and widespread