Poe's Writing Theories

“Poe’s Writing Theories in his Works of Literature” In the essay “The Philosophy of Composition” by Edgar Allan Poe, he develops a theory about how to write a good work of literature. According to Poe there are three essential theories regarding the writing of literature: length, impression conveyed, and writing techniques. By analyzing Poe 's major points in his essay and applying them to his poem The Raven and Annabel Lee and his short story “The Tell Tale Heart,” it is clear that poe used his writing philosophies on his own works of literature. One major point in Poe’s essay is that it should be possible to read any literary text (except a novel) in one sitting. Poe once stated “If any literary work …show more content…
This is antithesis to the idea that poets write purely out of intuition or inspiration, which was a common romantic conceit. Poe once said “ It is my design to render it manifest that no one point in its composition is referable either to accident or intuition, that the work proceeded, step by step, to its completion with the precision and rigid consequence of a mathematical problem.” In other words, Poe believes a work of literature should be thought up thoroughly and well-planned, and be completed like math problem. He believes there shouldn 't be an unknown answer in the end of it all, and that the writing should have the ability to be figured out in a way. This is the opposite of what most people think of when they hear someone say "write a poem." Most people believe it is simple and in the moment, while Poe believes it is a steady process that takes time. Poe describes the work of composing The Raven and Annabel Lee, as if it were a mathematical problem. Each image was deeply thought out. Each word in the poem had a meaning and went with the intensity of the intended effect of the work. The words are all meaningful to the purpose and they can be be read in one …show more content…
The most poetical topic is the death of a beautiful woman. According to Poe, ”Beauty of whatever kind in its supreme development invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears. Melancholy is thus the most legitimate of all the poetical tones.” In this statement Poe reveals that, sadness is one of the beautiful tones to write in. He feels that sadness speaks to the reader and makes the piece more emotional and captures the readers attention and "soul" fully. Thus, the best tone to use throughout literature is sadness. The death of beautiful women sets the heart breaking scenarios, and as for the raven, the poem is narrated from a man who has lost his beautiful wife, his beloved Lenore’s death leaves him lonely, and depressed, the poem focuses on the man’s feelings. Also in The Raven, Poe creates a melancholy mood that changes smoothly into a deep sense of foreboding and finally turns into terror as the poem continues. In the opening of the poem, Poe sets the melancholy mood, because the time is describe as “midnight dreary,” giving the impression of darkness. The atmosphere is enhanced by “the bleak December” setting, giving the impression of cold darkness and the dying embers of the fire casting shadows in the room, provides the gloomy mood for the poem. The mood is changed in the third stanza.The mood is transformed by Poe