Edgar Allen Poe's philosophy of short fiction influenced his writing style in multiple ways. Since he thought a short story should be read in one sitting, he made sure to hook the reader from the start. His openings are often quite arresting, like in 'The Masque of the Red Death' with the description of the plague - ridden land. His philosophy also made him pay great attention to the pacing. He would build up the tension gradually until it reached a climax, and then resolve it quickly. This is seen in many of his horror - themed short stories, where the fear and suspense keep mounting until the final, often shocking, revelation.
Edgar Allen Poe's philosophy on short fiction was centered around the idea of creating a mood or atmosphere. He thought that every element in a short story, from the setting to the characters' actions, should contribute to this overall mood. In his view, a short story was not meant to be a long - winded exploration of multiple themes but rather a concise creation of a particular feeling. Take 'The Fall of the House of Usher', where the gloomy setting and the characters' deteriorating mental states work together to create a sense of doom and dread.
Edgar Allen Poe had a rather troubled life which deeply influenced his stories. His financial difficulties and the deaths of many loved ones led to themes of loss, despair and death in his works. For example, the death of his young wife might have contributed to the melancholic tone in many of his stories.
Poe's interest in the human mind, which might have been influenced by his own complex mental state, is evident in his short novels. His characters often have extreme psychological states, such as in 'The Tell - Tale Heart' where the narrator's madness is a central aspect. This could be related to Poe's own exploration of his own mind and the minds of those around him during his troubled life.
His personal life was full of hardships. He faced the death of many loved ones at a young age. This made death a recurring theme in his 'Edgar Poe Stories'. Also, his bouts of alcoholism and his own mental states probably seeped into the madness and instability of some of the narrators in his stories. Poe was often on the edge of poverty, which could have contributed to the gloomy and often desolate settings in his works.
To write like Poe, you need to master the art of psychological horror. Explore the depths of human fears and madness in your characters. Incorporate elements of the supernatural and the unknown to add an extra layer of mystery.
His use of vivid and often gloomy imagery affects the Christmas story. For example, he might describe a desolate Christmas landscape rather than a bright and cheerful one, creating a unique atmosphere.
His difficult back story made his writing dark. Losing his parents and facing poverty led to his gloomy themes.
His own experiences with mental illness, or at least his observations of it, are reflected in his stories. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's descent into madness could be related to Poe's own battles or awareness of the human mind's fragility. He often wrote about characters on the brink of insanity, which might have been inspired by his own life's hardships and the instability he witnessed.
Poe's difficult life, filled with poverty and personal losses, influenced his short stories. His experiences of loss are reflected in the themes of death and grief in his works. For example, the death of his young wife might have inspired the melancholic tone in many of his stories.
Poe's autobiography could have provided the emotional backdrop for his short stories. If he had faced hardships like poverty or loss in his life, as might be hinted at in his autobiography, these feelings could be translated into the mood of his stories. His characters might then be manifestations of his own self or people he knew, with their fates mirroring the tragedies or challenges he faced, thus making his short stories more poignant and real.