1. The Dark Romantics Valued intuition over logic and reason Valued intuition over logic and reason They saw signs and symbols in all events They saw signs and symbols in all events They Explored They Explored Conflict between good and evil Conflict between good and evil Psychological effects of guilt and sin Psychological effects of guilt and sin Madness in the human psyche Madness in the human psyche Behind social respectability, they saw the horror of evil Behind social respectability, they saw the horror of evil Authors Authors Nathaniel Hawthorne Edgar Allan Poe

2. EDGAR ALLEN POE’S REOCCURING THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

3. Eyes Eyes One of his most common motifs. One of his most common motifs. Can be referred to as “orb” Can be referred to as “orb” Eyes considered to be window to the soul Eyes considered to be window to the soul Heart Heart Heart is important as both the Heart is important as both the Physical “pump” of the body Physical “pump” of the body Center of all feeling and experience Center of all feeling and experience As Romantic (literary movement) As Romantic (literary movement) Greater emphasis on the HEART (representing emotion and experience) Greater emphasis on the HEART (representing emotion and experience) than on HEAD (representing intellect, rational thought, and scientific reasoning) than on HEAD (representing intellect, rational thought, and scientific reasoning)

4. Unnamed Narrator Unnamed Narrator Unnamed narrator frequently tells stories (narrator not meant to represent Poe) Unnamed narrator frequently tells stories (narrator not meant to represent Poe) Lack of specific identity gives him an EVERYMAN quality Lack of specific identity gives him an EVERYMAN quality ?

5. Premature Burial/Suffocation Premature Burial/Suffocation 2 concepts linked “Life-in-death” theme the idea of being enclosed with the dead while still part of the living Vortex Vortex Image and action of a spinning, swirling whirlpool that cycles like water down a drain Ex. When a character is walking down a spiral or circular staircase, or being swallowed up by an angry, swirling sea

6. Dreams/Dreaming Dreams/Dreaming Dreams are the porthole into the inner workings of the mind Dreams are the porthole into the inner workings of the mind Poe’s narrator’s and characters often talk about the subconscious dream state Poe’s narrator’s and characters often talk about the subconscious dream state Do they dream to remember or dream to forget? Do they dream to remember or dream to forget? They may awaken from dreams and question whether they are awake or not They may awaken from dreams and question whether they are awake or not They may even seem to exist in an eternal dream-like state They may even seem to exist in an eternal dream-like state Rarely are dreams soothing or pleasant Rarely are dreams soothing or pleasant Two Sides of Oneself Two Sides of Oneself Duality of man: man is both good and evil, light and dark can be contained in same person Duality of man: man is both good and evil, light and dark can be contained in same person “Mirror” Image: the double or look- alike stranger “Mirror” Image: the double or look- alike stranger “Twin” characters: separate yet inseparable “Twin” characters: separate yet inseparable Doppleganger: the motif of the double or fractured image fairly common to literature Doppleganger: the motif of the double or fractured image fairly common to literature

7. Time/Clocks Time/Clocks Many of his stories are set in ambiguous times and places, making them universal and contemporary to the reader of any era HOURS and times of day especially 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 and 12:00 Uses direct and subtle references to TIME or CLOCKS Events often begin at dusk and end with daybreak “The witching hour” of 12 midnight Animals Animals Repetition of certain types of characters—black cats, black ravens, and apes (orangutans) Narrator may “lead” the reader into thinking such an animal is innately evil or has magical powers Reader has to determine based on behavior of the animal whether this is true or if narrator is just projecting his own beliefs onto the animal.