“Themes of ruin and apocalypse intensify in several poems of the 1840’s” and as one of the today most approved writers of that time, Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry is certainly worth being investigated in this regard.
In this paper I want to investigate the apocalyptic vision in Edgar Allan Poe’s poems “The Conqueror Worm”, published in 1843, and “The City in the Sea”, in its final version from the year 1845. I also have to mention that I will examine “The Conqueror Worm” as a poem on its own and not in connection with the tale Ligeia, into which the poem was later (1845) established. I have also decided to work with the five-stanza version of “The City in the Sea”, opposed to a widely spread opinion that the poem should only contain four stanzas .
For an analysis concerned with this topic, it has to be made clear what I understand when I use the term apocalyptic. Therefore the paper starts with an attempt to define the term as good as possible. Afterwards I am going to give a thorough analysis of “The Conqueror Worm” first, and then I will analyze “The City in the Sea”. The analyses are going to include interpretations according to the apocalyptic vision in the poems.
At the end of the paper I will give a short summary together with the most important outcomes of the analyses.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- What is apocalyptic? An attempt of a definition
- Poe's apocalyptic vision in “The Conqueror Worm”
- Poe's apocalyptic vision in “The City in the Sea”
- Summary
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the apocalyptic vision present in two poems by Edgar Allan Poe: “The Conqueror Worm” and “The City in the Sea.” It aims to investigate the meaning of apocalyptic in Poe’s work, exploring how he uses this concept to depict themes of destruction, revelation, and the futility of human existence.
- The definition and evolution of the term "apocalyptic."
- Poe's use of theatrical imagery to represent the apocalyptic vision.
- The role of death and destruction as central themes in Poe's poetry.
- The contrast between human ambition and the overwhelming power of fate.
- The exploration of themes of ruin and decay in Poe's poems.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the analysis, introducing the chosen poems and their context within Poe's literary output. It also outlines the paper's methodology and purpose.
- What is apocalyptic? An attempt of a definition: This chapter provides a nuanced understanding of the term "apocalyptic," exploring its historical and theological origins and tracing its evolution into a more secularized concept.
- Poe's apocalyptic vision in “The Conqueror Worm”: This chapter examines the poem “The Conqueror Worm” through the lens of apocalyptic themes. It analyzes the poem's structure, imagery, and symbolism to reveal how Poe portrays the inevitable triumph of death and the insignificance of human existence.
- Poe's apocalyptic vision in “The City in the Sea”: This chapter delves into Poe's “The City in the Sea” to explore its apocalyptic implications. It examines the poem's imagery of a submerged city and its symbolism of decay, ruin, and the fading grandeur of human civilization.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper explores the apocalyptic vision in Edgar Allan Poe's poetry, focusing on the key concepts of destruction, revelation, death, fate, and the futility of human endeavor. It delves into the thematic significance of theatrical imagery, ruin, and decay in Poe's work, examining how he utilizes these elements to convey his unique perspective on the human condition.
- Quote paper
- Nadine Esser (Author), 2009, Edgar Allan Poe’s Apocalyptic Vision in “The Conqueror Worm“ and “The City in the Sea“, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/156424
