Poe`s `classicism` vs. Poe`s `Romanticism`

Exploration of Classicism and Romanticism

in the Fiction , Poetry , and Critical Theories

of Edgar Allan Poe

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Edgar Allan Poe is a defining author in American Literature . He is the perfect combination of poet and journalist . He understood and promoted the idea that an author should take a critical approach to writing and his own prose . His interests in science and fact combined with his almost obsessive pursuit , of capturing in writing , the human psyche and the nature of lose create

literature that is both pragmatic idealistic , and uniquely American . Through the examination of Poe 's critical theories , poetry , and fiction it is clear that his writings exhibit a well calculated blend of Romanticism and Classicism

Poe 's approach to critical theories are clearly influenced by the classicism movement . In The Philosophy of Composition ' Poe explicitly describes his efforts in writing The Raven ' and then intricately details his methodology . One of his major critical points is what he calls unity of effect . Poe writes that every single word , sentence , and activity within a short story must contribute directly to the establishment of a certain single effect . He continues that art ' must display brevity ' and should be long enough for the author to fully flesh out his pre-designed single effect and short enough to be read in one sitting . He writes a long poem does not exist ' and a long poem ' is a flat contradiction in terms Poe stressed his belief that the single most important goal of art especially poetry was the demonstration of beauty from the author to his audience . He writes The most elevating and the most pure pleasure is found in the contemplation of the beautiful . The pursuit of natural beauty was a key component of the classical period of literature Additionally , the ideals of moderation and are paramount to a classical society and classicism literature . However , not all of Poe 's methodology is steeped in classicism . He continues that didaction and allegory have absolutely no place in art . He believed that preaching and teaching were activities that were meant for churches and schools It was well known that Poe believed that prose that only stimulated the mind could not be art because art exists only in a beautiful and refined environment . The goal of art , in Poe 's opinion , was to create emotion in the reader and therefore the type of emotion that will be created in a piece of place is where the writing actually begins . For example if 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 . The movement away from religion transcendentalism teaching , and the focus on emotion are characteristic of romanticism . Upon further evaluation of Poe 's work it is obvious that he not only theorized critical approaches to writing but followed his own strict methodology

Poe 's fiction , in structure , conformed systematically to his classical critical theories of brevity and the unity effect . Ligeia William Wilson , The Fall Of The House Usher , The Tell-Tale Heart , and the Purloined Letter ' all adhere to Poe 's strict classical ideology that the most effective story is one in which can be read in a single sitting . Poe wrote that if an author in his very initial sentence tend not to be the outbringing of this effect , then he has failed in his first step ' and continues In the whole composition there should be no word written , of which the tendency , direct or indirect , is not to the one pre-established design . Certainly , this is true in the The Tell-Tale Heart which begins TRUE ! --nervous --very , very dreadfully nervous I had been and am but why will you say that I am mad ? The disease had sharpened my senses --not destroyed --not dulled them . From the first sentence to last the unity effect ' is adhered to , making each word and sentence directly support the intended effect of the writing . Additionally , Poe 's technical skill as a writer parallels the classical idea of movement toward perfection . His word choice and mastery of the English language is unmatched in the world of literature . This can been seen in his use of of anapests in The Fall of the House Usher . For example , on page 2 of the story , the narrator thinks It was thus that he spoke of the object of my visit , of his earnest desire to see me , and of the solace he expected me to afford him . The use of repeated anapests which are a metrical foot consisting of three syllables , the first two short , or unaccented , the last long , or accented . The literary devices used in Poe 's fiction are unambiguously romantic . His characters are controlled and driven completely by emotion . Poe 's belief that man felt things before he thought about things was certainly true of his most intellectual character M . Dupin who ability to solved cases was based less on fact and more on intuition . The same is true in Ligeia ' where the narrator and the story exist almost completely in a universe of emotions . In William Wilson ' the story is told from the point of view of the main character 's schizophrenic mind . In most cases the narrator of the story is never described or seen by the reader . The anonymousness of the narrator adds to the effect and emotional goals of the story . Romanticism literature is further defined by the incorporation of mysterious and mystical elements . The setting in each of Poe 's works of fiction is a closed environment and in settings which are far detached from those real environments of the readers . The Fall of the House Usher ' occurs in a decaying castle , remote parts of England in Ligeia , or France in The Purloined Letter , and within a single room in the climax of the Tell-Tale Heart . In almost all of his short stories the themes of mental and emotion degeneration are explored . The inner workings of the mind as well as the heart are standard romantic themes and the limits of classicism simply to not allow for such luxuries . It is in Poe 's poetry that his unique mixture of classicism and romanticism is ultimately displayed

The majority of Poe 's ballads can be placed into two categories . The first are straightforward lyrical ballads and these include Annabel Lee ' and Israfel . The second are poems which are driven by extreme meter , rhyme , and refrain in which the narrator is struggling for his life in a prison of his emotions . The emotion content of each of his poems and the death of a beautiful woman is explored again and again . This is completely a romantic ideal . Themes of loss devastation , the lack of emotional control and ultimately love (or love loss ) dominate his poetry . Beyond the strict and excellent use of meter , rhyme , and alliteration in his poems , classicism is seen in additional ways . The use of classical references in his poetry are integral in creating a single unifying effect . In The Raven there are several references to the classical world . And the raven never flitting , still is sitting , still is sitting / On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door ' the reference is to Pallas the goddess of wisdom . This clear classicism reference pays homage to the exemplification of the Greeks and Romans while alluding to the wisdom of the narrator . His classical references continue in The Raven ' and Poe writes perfumed by an unseen censer / Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled . The Seraphim is one of the six angels standing in front of god . In the same verse he mentions Nepenthe ' which is an ancient chemical used to help with pain . In the next stanza Balm of Gilead ' which is a soothing ointment used in the ancient regions of Palestine . The sixteenth verse Aidenn ' or Eden is referenced , and in the second to the final verse Plutonian Shores ' are noted , Pluto was the Roman god of the underworld . The poem To Helen ' references the woman of ancient Rome who launched a thousand ships and had a ten year war fought for her . In the poems Sonnet - To Science , Sonnet - Silence , and The City by the Sea ' Poe actually enlists the ideals of classicism and romanticism as many components in his writing . For example in Sonnet- To Science ' Poe asks why does the poet have to be a victim of science and explains science is based on frigid realities Poe writes Science ! true daughter of Old Time thou art / Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes / Why preyest thou thus upon the poet 's heart ' He suggests that science as well as fantasy are both equally good ways to explore the reality of the world . In Sonnet - Silence ' Poe writes about the duality of life and the in entity which springs / From matter and light , evinced in solid and shade ' Light is a theme explored in classicism literature but the idea that the shadow is just as important as the light is a romantic notion . The City by The Sea ' references the classical civilization of Atlantis . The city is eventually overcome by the waves and sinks . The unity of effect here is the battle between the will of man and the will of nature

Poe is defined by most critics as a Gothic Romanticism writer However , with the intricate analysis of his body of work solid influences of classicism can be seen . The reader quickly understands that these influences are not by chance but are clear choices made by Poe . He interweaves equal parts of classicism and romanticism into his fiction , poetry , and critical theories producing his unique blend of intellectual horror . He introduces and uses the idea of strict control in his critical theories specifically his unity of effect ' theory and his exemplification of natural beauty . As well as his mastery of the English language and literary devices within his fiction are inspired by classicism . His poetry is saturated with references to the ancient world and the theme of light is re-occurring . Poe 's use of love emotion , and loss are all characteristic of romanticism . As are Poe 's fiction ever present themes of mental exploration and emotion decaying into madness . In consideration of Poe 's unique blending of classicism ideals and romanticism themes he may be aptly described as a romantic ironist or a romantic idealist

Bibliography

Poe , Edgar "Works of Edgar Allan Poe " Anthology of American Literature . Ed . George McMichael . New York : Prentice Hall , 2004 723-811...