... cousin, Virginia Clemm, but kept it secret because of her young age and their relationship. Virginia soon fell very ill and died on January 30, 1847. At that point, Poe's writing began to decline. "Historians note that Poe's writings emphasizing the dark side of humanity and nature challenged the optimistic and confident spirit of the American people during the nineteenth century" ("The Tell-Tale Heart" 349). Years later, after ... to prove innocence of the crime. By defending his sanity, it puts more guilt on the charge of the murder (Robinson 353). Through Poe's unique style of writin...

• Word Count: 1485
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School