Questions After 4/9 in EN 211

 

Good afternoon :)

For Friday, we will turn to more canonical fiction by Edgar Allan Poe ("The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Tell-Tale Heart"), one of the pioneers in short-story writing (as opposed to sketch-writing) as well as, of course, his poem "The Raven."

Here are a few questions for you and your journal:

-- What does Edgar Allen Poe add to the fiction that we have been studying this semester?

-- What does he add to the poetry that we have been studying this semester?

-- Compare Poe's stories to other stories you've read outside of this class.  These stories may be "genre" fiction.  Poe is known for his tales of horror as well as his mystery fiction.  

-- To what extent is Poe entertaining his readers (including you)?

-- To what extent does analysis or historical background help you understand his work more fully?

-- Poe is a very popular writer although he is not as canonical as some.  Why do you think that he holds that position?  

-- Of the fiction writers we've read so far, which TWO are most deserving of being read  in your high school English class or future editions of EN 211?  Why?  Why not?

-- Should literary authors write to effect social or political change?  Why?  Why not?

-- Should literary authors write to entertain?  Why?  Why not?

-- Can an author do both?  Why?  Why not?

-- When you choose works to read in a literature course, what role does the author's intention to effect social or political change play?  Is it positive?  Is it negative?  Why?  Why not?

-- What role does gender play when one is choosing works to read in a literature course?  Why?  Why not?

-- How have our readings so far illuminated questions of gender?

-- How have our readings so far illuminated questions of socio-economic class?

-- How have our readings so far challenged your ideas about American identity?

By the way, Poe was one of A.B. Longstreet's fans!