Thesis on "Poe Illuminating the Obvious: Dark Humor"
Thesis 3 pages (1015 words) Sources: 6 Style: MLA
[EXCERPT] . . . .
PoeIlluminating the Obvious: Dark Humor and Macabre Guilt in the Works of Edgar Allen Poe
Edgar Allen Poe is known for being the progenitor of the mystery story and for being one of America's most darkly imaginative authors. His most famous pieces are undoubtedly his poem "The Raven" and his short story "The Tell Tale Heart," both of which have figured prominently in popular culture for the past century. They also contain two of the major themes that appear throughout much of Poe's work -- grief and guilt, specifically as they relate to death. Poe's genius is certainly not in the originality of is themes; many of his stories involve very similar incidents and large over-arching concepts. Instead, it is the way that Poe develops these themes and concepts that makes his work so memorable and so engaging; his exploration of death, grief, and guilt is both humorous and profound.
This is very observable in one of Poe's lesser known yet most wickedly enjoyable stories, "The Cask of Amontillado." In this story, the narrator lures an erstwhile friend of his that has caused him some unknown insult to him into his wine cellar, where he is walled into a small alcove and left to die. This finds a clear resonance in another of his stories, "The Black Cat." Here, the narrator hides the body of his murdered wife behind the wall in his cellar, where she is discovered by the police. Both of these stories explore themes of wealth, power, murder, and guilt in ways that are surprisingly fresh even over a century after they were written, and that clearly resonate with certain aspects of Poe's life (Matthiessen). Through the bizarre, the ironically humorous, and unexpected
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The bizarre is very clearly evident in "The Cask of Amontillado," where the murder victim is dressed in motley with bells -- a jester's outfit, as we might think of it today. The desire for revenge against the wealthy and foolish is something that Poe carried throughout much of his life, following his adoption but lack of inheritance from a wealthy benefactor (Matthiessen 179). By dressing Fortunato in this ridiculous costume, the theme of his foolishness as well as the macabre nature of his death is developed and heightened. In "The Black Cat," the narrator's murder of his wife comes near the very end of the story and results in very little guilt, though it is actually central to the narrator's position throughout the story (Reilly 94). The theme of guilt is instead brought about by the narrator's murder of a cat, which seems to haunt him in various fantastical ways.
There is a vicious sort of humor in the final appearance of the cat -- or a cat -- in the story. Having murdered one cat and trying to kill another -- and killing his wife instead -- the narrator accidentally bricks the cat into the wall, and it is the… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Poe Illuminating the Obvious: Dark Humor" Assignment:
“Poe, Dickinson, or Ibsen
In your Roberts and Jacobs text, Poe, Dickinson and Ibsen are featured in special chapters. Select one of these authors as the subject of your research paper, which must be 800-1000 words. Choose only from the topics listed below. Refer to at least two (2) primary works in the Literature Introduction to Reading and Writing, 8th
Edition, Roberts and Jacobs text and synthesize material from at least four (4) secondary sources, two of which must come from material not in your Roberts and Jacobs text. Primary works are those written by your chosen author. Secondary sources are written by scholars, critics and biographers about your chosen author.
Chapters 10a, 22a, 28a and Appendix I in the 9th edition and chapters 12a, 25a, 31a, 32 and Appendix A in the 8th edition discuss several aspects of scholarly research. Follow the MLA guidelines for internal documentation and for the Works Cited page.
Choose one topic over the author of your choice. Be sure to use at least two primary works (from Roberts and Jacobs) and four secondary sources (2 of which must come from sources other than Roberts and Jacobs) in writing your paper. Quote generously to provide factual evidence for your claims, bring in support from other analysts (secondary sources), and document the works and sources correctly.
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Your question and answer section stated your *****s probably already know my text material, if not let me know immediatly and I will fax it (210)421-3835 lori-larry@hotmail.com Thank-You
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I am using Poe the topics are listed below
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1. How does Poe use eerie and bizarre characters, settings, and images to develop his theme?
2. How does Poe use humor and irony to develop his theme?
3. Demonstrate how guilt and punishment inevitably follow criminal and immoral behavior in at least two stories.
How to Reference "Poe Illuminating the Obvious: Dark Humor" Thesis in a Bibliography
“Poe Illuminating the Obvious: Dark Humor.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2009, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/poe-illuminating-obvious-dark/80747. Accessed 28 Sep 2024.
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