Blog # 6 Questions 2-4

Question 2: Edgar Allan Poe's father ran away, and his mother died before he was three years old. His foster father never accepted him. He fell in love in college, but the girl's family stopped the engagement, because they knew he wouldn't get foster father fortune. He was at war, and got kicked out for disobedience of orders. He then went to live with his aunt and married her daughter Virginia who was only 13. Virginia died of consumption, and after her death his life fell apart. He suffered through a suicide attempt, several failed romances, and a long battle with alcoholism and depression. He was the father of modern mystery, and a worldwide influence on Literature. He was best known for poems and short fiction. He eventually was found unconscious on a Baltimore street. Poe died at age 40 in October they say from "Congestion of the brain".
Obviously, Poe led a miserable life. The constant encounters with death he suffered contributed to the types of writings, and poems he wrote. His life was shrouded with gloominess, and all of his life's misfortunes can be mirrored in his writings. He seemed to be a sad, miserable man, and his poems and writings all had a sad, miserable tone. It is clear that the melancholy that held dominion over his life, was manifested into the forms of poetry and stories. I think his influence to writing "The Tell Tale Heart," has to do with Virginia's sickness and her slow death. I think his passages are full of death, and darkness. Poe used many of the real life tragedies he experienced as inspiration for his Gothic style writing. Poe used literary devices such as point of view, and symbolism to give it a more dramatic effect, and to add to the madness the narrator portrays. I think he wrote this passage, because he likes to write things that evokes emotions.

Question 4: The article "The Tell-Tale Heart," is about a narrator who claims that he is not mad, but his behavior tells a different story. He wants to destroy another male, not out of jealousy or animosity, but because "one of his eyes resembled that of a vultures". He sees the eye as a threat to his well being, but it is he who is a menace to his own being. He kills the man with pride, only to concede to his horrific crime due to his guilt-ridden heart. The quote "And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in!" This particular quote talks about sexual reference which has no connection in my opinion to this passage. Then the article continues to say the narrator exists as a bipolar individual. I think bipolar is an act without intent, and uncontrollable. The narrator actually thought this out before he killed the man. Another quote says "Coupling of love and hate forms the basis for sad omasochism". I think this is a distorted quote its very vivid. The reading of this article does not really conform in some parts such as the quotes I listed above. The story is very strange, and corrupt. I Think he intentionally killed the man, and enjoyed it because it says he feels joy inside.