安徽三联学院外语学院美国文学课件Chapter 5 Edgar Allen Poe.ppt

Edgar Allan Poe Content Ⅰ. Brief Introduction Ⅱ. Theories on Literature Ⅲ. Major Works Ⅳ. Appreciation –Born in an actor and actress’s family – His parents died when he was very young –Adopted by a Virginia rich businessman John Allan – Entered the Virginia University at 17 – West Point where he began to write poetry – Then tales – editor of magazines. – At 27 he married his 13-year-old cousin Virginia who died very young in 1947 (1809-1849) Ⅰ. Brief Introduction Life A. Novelist, poet, professional literary critic; B. Good at writing Gothic and detective fiction, father of western detective stories; C. Father of psychoanalytic criticism; E. Advocates for “art for art’s sake” and his aesthetics has influenced French symbolists; Evaluation F. For a long time, he was the most controversial, misunderstood: an evil genius鬼才 – A jingle man( Emerson) – His prose unreadable (Mark Twain) – Enthusiasm for Poe is primitive state of development. (Henry James) – In Europe Poe enjoyed respect “greatest journalistic critic of his time and his poetry is refined and his tales are complete works of art” (G.B. Shaw) П. Theories on Poems a. Poems should be short, concise and readable at one setting; b. The aim of poem writing is beauty; the most beautiful thing described by a poem is the death of a beautiful woman; the desirable tone of a poem is melancholy; c. He opposed didactic (教学的,指导的) poems; d. He stressed the form of poem, esp. the beautiful and neat rhyme. П. Theories on Short Stories: a. The short story should be so brief as to be read at one setting. b. The first sentence ought to help to bring out the “single effect” of the story. c. No word should be used which does not contribute to the work. d. A tale should reveal some logical truth, and should end with the last sentence, leaving a sense of finality with the reader. Ⅲ. Major Works 1. The Raven《乌鸦》