Edgar Allan Poe's Influence On American Culture

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe was an important influence in the literature community. He was one of the forefathers of the short story and detective fiction in America. Varying from “The Raven” to The Cask of Amontillado,” there is something attractive about the twisted narratives he created that draw those to his writings. He was a compellingly tragic man with a background as haunting as his stories. To read his work is to, essentially, view the life he led. His writings were looked at as his heart on his sleeve. He was an easy sell to an audience who had not been exposed to his style of work because he focused on what humans consider their primal fear: death. Poe was an American author who could craft a world that took those to their

He was the first.” Poe is credited with creating the detective and horror genre, and his legacy lives on through pop culture. His works influenced literary masterminds like Conan Doyle, Shaw, H.G. Wells, and W.H. Auden. He is frequently referenced in schools to help students understand the mood and setting of stories. His poem “Eureka” has been considered an early form of science fiction (“Influence of Edgar Allan Poe on American Culture”). Among his influences in entertainment, The Beatles using his image for the album cover of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Lou Reed’s concept album, “The Raven,” featuring references of Poe’s work were most notable (“Influence of Edgar Allan Poe on American Culture”). The writing community also studies him to strengthen their prose and ability to build suspense (Hockensmith,

It tells of a man’s spiral into madness upon the raven’s presence (River 68-71). Its theme banks on devotion and the struggles of grief that one feels while mourning the death of a lover (“The Raven Themes,” Schmoop). The inspiration for the poem was a raven that belonged to Charles Dickens. The bird was intelligent and showed fascinating behavior. He taught the raven how to speak which was what intrigued and directly influenced Poe’s piece (Eckert, “Edgar Allan Poe’s Inspirations). A fan favorite of Poe’s work is “The Cask of Amontillado.” The short story focuses on a man who seeks revenge against a man who insulted him. He conveniently meets the intoxicated man at a carnival before luring him into the catacombs and burying him alive (River 733-738). The narrative’s theme balances between revenge and mortality. It teaches that revenge can come at a hefty price, and it spotlights the anxieties people have involving death (“Cask of Amontillado Themes,” Schmoop). Poe does add humor to the morbid story, though, and by the end, the reader is more appreciative of being