... the rendering of those darker motives that drive us on. For the purpose of this Essay I shall analyze four of Poe's short stories; "The Black Cat," "The Cask of Amontillado," The Masque of The Red Death," and "The Tell-tale Heart." Although numerous critics have different views on Poe's writing ... for no other reason than because he knows he should not?" (p.13) Perversion provides the rationale for otherwise unjustifiable acts, such as killing the first cat or rapping with his cane upon the plastered-up wall behind which stood his wife's corpse "...already greatly decayed and clotted wit...

• Word Count: 4324
• Approx Pages: 17
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... I mention the matter at all for no better reason than it happened, just now, to be remembered"(80). Poe expresses his early attachment to the cat and dramatizes the character changes he experiences when he writes "our friendship lasted, in this manner, for several years, during which my general temperament and character ... cynical tone and implies the beginning of the madness he denies. Poe first illustrates this madness when he uses imagery to describe the brutal scene with the cat when he writes "I took from my waistcoat-pocket a pen knife, opened it, grasped the poor beast by the thr...

• Word Count: 3233
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... . The owner complained that Poe was "Continually after my money. I am sick of his writings as I am of him." Poe relieved himself. In his friendless, dark world, Poe befriended a black cat off of the streets that he named Cattarena. In Those days, black cats were considered witches, but Poe's whole world seemed to be caving around him, so the idea of ... this cat didn't seem so bad. By about 1840, Poe's life had become extremely dark and tormented, so did his poetry. He began writing "Disasters of War", "The Pit and the Pendulum ... ...

• Word Count: 3165
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... ago), to F "S. O "D, To Helen (I saw thee once), and To Zante. Some of his tales included; Angel of the Odd "An Extravaganza, The Balloon Hoax, Berenice, The Black Cat, The Cask of Amontillado, Diddling Considered as One of the Exact Sciences, The Domain of Arnheim, The Duc De L'Omlette, Eleonora, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, The Tales ... ...

• Word Count: 4073
• Approx Pages: 16
• Grade Level: High School

... ). He didn't show the least respect, and didn't pause for an instant. But, with the air of a lord or lady, he perched above my chamber door upon a bust of Pallas (39-40). He perched and sat there, and nothing else (42). Then this black bird, deceiving my sad state into smiling, by the serious and firm manners of the air it ... ...

• Word Count: 2508
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School