Why should you read Edgar Allan Poe? - Scott Peeples

The prisoner strapped under a descending pendulum blade. A raven who refuses to leave the narrator’s chamber. A beating heart buried under the floorboards. Poe’s macabre and innovative stories of gothic horror have left a timeless mark on literature. But just what is it that makes Edgar Allan Poe one of the greatest American authors? Scott Peeples investigates.

Lesson by Scott Peeples, directed by Compote Collective.

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[agochk]

It's a shame that many famous artists live in poverty or are not recognized for their works until after they die.

[giosantos]

"And all I loved. I loved alone"

-Edgar Allan Poe

[കേണൽഔറേലിയനോ]

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before."- Edgar Allan Poe

[rayyanstyles]

“The most powerful emotion is fear. And the greatest fear is fear of the unknown”

[RANDOMify]

That picture of Edgar Allan Poe you described in the beginning. Pale skin, sunken eyes.

Well that was a picture taken after a failed overdose. They were taking a picture of him cause they thought he was gonna die and they were gonna use said picture to make paintings of him to remember him by.

*quite a common practice at the time*

He was actually quite a handsome man.

[aparnadasgupta]

"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." Man! What a powerful quote. This quote itself explains why one should read Edgar Allan Poe

[cynicalcenobia]

"And so, being young and dipped in folly I fell in love with melancholy." - Edgar Allan Poe

[dimatadore]

My absolute favorite quote is from his poem "Alone"
"From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone"

[aleezakashani]

It was many and many a year ago,  

   In a kingdom by the sea,  

That a maiden there lived whom you may know 

   By the name of Annabel Lee; 

And this maiden she lived with no other thought 

   Than to love and be loved by me.

[UBCMETCommunity]

Such a clever animation of a great writer. I can't help but smile and think that Poe would have approved of the style in which you portrayed him and his work.

[McJethroPovTee]

The man is a great *Poe-t*, amiright?

I'll see myself out!

[ashleyhyatt]

“Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence– whether much that is glorious– whether all that is profound– does not spring from disease of thought– from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect.”

[penelope]

Finally, Edgar Allan Poe's video. His poems and muses are beautiful. I love his "Alone" poem the most. Thank you for making this video. ❤️

[josephedmondson]

I feel like both Poe and Lovecraft were on similar paths. Both passionate about what they wrote, they both suffered traumatic losses of their loved ones, antagonistic, lived in poverty. Yet, despite all of this, they both ended up as well loved writers and inspirations to others long after their deaths.

[aliamr]

Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.
-Edgar Allan Poe

[amapiria]

After reading The Cask of Amontillado back in high school, I was instantly captured by Poe’s writing. “Nemo me impune lacessit” and the narrator’s lack of regret- I have never encountered those themes before. Then I had this book which contains his famous short stories which I found hard to devour since I was still young, yet there’s something about the quality of his work that just pulls you in. Of course, if you ask me who my favorite writer is, it’s Poe. Always.

[naingchanmyae]

I love Edgar Allan Poe’s books so much that I once stole his short stories book from a library and never return to it again.

[salvinlevi]

It feels sad to realise that his personal life was as haunted as his stories. But on the other hand, I feel happy that instead of breaking down or getting depressed, Edgar turned his adversities into a source of inspiration. To me, you are a true hero Edgar.

[hiazhar]

Now that's a classic goth literature 😀

[derekbarrantes]

Edgar Allan Poe is arguably one of the greatest writers of all time. Not only was he a master of writing about the macabre, but he was also the man who created detective fiction. If it weren’t for his very own sleuth C. Auguste Dupin, we would never see characters like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. His influence was even felt outside of the west. In Japan, famed mystery writer Taro Hirai based his own pen name “Edogawa Ranpo” on the prolific poet. There’s so much I have to say about this man since he’s been a great inspiration to me as a writer.