Respuesta :
Answer:
Poe is known for his contributions to several literary genres, including American Romanticism, Gothic, and horror. Poe is also usually credited as the inventor of the detective fiction genre and inspired countless authors of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Explanation:
You may well ask, why do we study any historical author? Because authors, be they of the nineteenth century or the 16th century give us a view of how these authors perceived their world, both imaginatively, and practically. They give us an insight of how poets, playwrights and fictional writers, viewed their world from their unique perspectives at a specific historical time. A view that is quite different than ours. It gives us an idea of how the era with its social, religious and philosophical ideas affected them and their literary output.
Knowing this, you begin to realise that ideas based on earlier philosophies and political perspectives and religious movements show us, as readers, historical differences that make a difference as to how people of those eras thought. When you read this material, you may do so superficially, assuming that they are not really that different from your view of the world. You would be wrong.
During these times slavery was commonplace, women were second class citizens, and children were seen but not heard.
(Reading the works and life of Emily Dickinson 1830-1885 will give you an idea of the restrictions on women during these times - they might be wilful, but they were always under the direct control of fathers and husbands).
Poe’s output is mostly as a writer of poetry and prose based on the American dark Romantic movement of which he was the major proponent. His tales are primarily about the macabre and the mysterious, especially features of horror; Poe’s dark romanticism was a reaction to Transcendentalism a religious movement of the time. He lived in a country (1809 - 1849) newly established in its own right and free from the draconian powers of British empire (1783), but one which still condoned slavery, had an established system of class, based not on the aristocracy but on merchant wealth. Laissez faire capitalism was in its inception and divisions between the South and North were brewing and would break out into civil war within ten years (1861).
As literature Poe established several genres; science fiction, detective stories macabre fiction, gothic tales of horror and terror and also created cryptic (crossword) puzzles used in the popular press of the time. He was also a literary critic with a reputation for being excessively critical, especially toward the renowned American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He was an alcoholic who possibly died as a result of alcoholic poisoning.
Beside the historical, issues and the various forms in which he wrote, he was and is recognised as one of Americas foremost 19th century writers and poets. He developed themes along the lines of European dark romanticism (Sturm &t Drang), but reworked these themes into a unique mode of his own. Most of his output was aimed for the popular market. Primarily short stories and poems. “The Raven” brought him instant success, though little economic joy. He struggled with drinking and often fought with his father, (he had been adopted after the early death of both his mother and father). he married early but his young wife died of tuberculosis a few years later. It is believed that her death influenced his oft references to death and a beautiful young lady.
Unlike Longfellow, Poe’s works are still popular are frequently read and are reprinted often in new editions. His writings have influenced several major authors, such as Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, Henry James, Arthur Conan Doyle among others.
Why do we study Edgar Allan Poe? How is he relevant to the modern day world? Because, as you can see from this short precise, his influence was widespread, he changed the way authors wrote in these various genres. He expressed in his writings the views of his era, quite different from ours, and he established a unique body of literature - in several genres, that are still read and valued today.
Also, his works have influenced many contemporary authors, writers, film and TV fictional stories of the macabre as well as detective tales.
