Exploring The Macabre World of Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe Before Stephen King was the reigning “King” of the horror genre, there was the Ultimate Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. His terrifying narratives have lasted throughout the centuries and have had a massive impact on popular culture, even to this day. Click on the picture of Poe and read a little about his life and how he came to be one of the greatest American writers of all time.

Questions 1.What did you find most intriguing about the author’s life? 2. What was Poe’s most famous work? 3. When did Poe die?

The Raven Poe’s most influential and famous story is THE RAVEN. Take a look at this dark and dreary story of a man tortured by an ominous bird…

Question 4& 5 After reading The Raven, why might this be one of Poe’s most popular works? How did this poem make you feel as you were reading it?

The Black Cat Here is another one of Poe’s haunting tales of madness. Click on the title to read.

Question 6 What are commonalities you see when comparing The Raven and The Black Cat? For example, you could discuss the interesting choice of centering the plot around two ominous creatures: a black cat and a raven.

Popular Media In the 1950’s and 60’s the king of horror films, Vincent Price appeared in several Poe film adaptations. Watch this clip from The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

Question 7 Look up another one of Vincent Price’s films that is another adaptation of a Poe story. Please write down the title, director and year it was released.

Parody Poe’s works are so timeless, even popular comedies have parodied his tales. Check out this classic Simpsons take on The Raven.

Question 8 What might it mean when a story gets to the point where it is parodied?

Poe In MediaToday In 2013 Fox premiered the critically acclaimed drama, “The Following.” This terrifying and disturbing television show follows detective Ryan Hardy, as he fights to take down a vicious serial killer who’s hero just happens to be Edgar Allan Poe. If you would like to view the series you will need parental permission but you can watch the trailer at your own risk.

Question 9 Other than giving you a good laugh or an eerie chill, why is it interesting to look into the media applications and adaptations of Poe’s work?

The Timeless Art of Poe As you can see through the media adaptations of Poe’s creations, his gripping tales are still very prevalent in popular culture.

Question 10 Why do you think that Poe’s various works have stood the test of time and continue to be a part of society today?

Reflection Please write a short reflection on the most important thing you gained from your exploration of Poe and why you think he is such a prominent American writer. .