English 11 / Unit 2: Romanticism and Transcendentalism
2.3 Edgar Allan Poe and Dark Romanticism
Notes
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) wrote poems and tales of horror, guilt and madness. He is a leading figure in Dark Romanticism, which explores the troubled, irrational side of the mind.
- Poe argued a short work should aim at a single unity of effect: every detail contributes to one mood.
- "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843) has an unreliable narrator who insists he is sane while describing a murder. Guilt makes him hear the heartbeat of his victim.
- "The Raven" (1845) uses a repeated refrain ("Nevermore"), strong rhythm and internal rhyme to create gloom.
- Poe is also credited with helping to develop the modern detective story.
- Worked example: when a narrator says "but why will you say that I am mad?" while describing careful murder plans, readers doubt his judgment. That is unreliable narration.
Practice
What is an unreliable narrator?
Readers must question what such a narrator says.
In "The Raven," the repeated word "Nevermore" is an example of:
A refrain is a line or word repeated throughout a poem.
What does Poe's idea of "unity of effect" mean?
Poe designed each detail to contribute to a single emotional effect.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 2 test.