The current work seeks to portray women's characters as they are depicted in the short stories “Ligeia” (1838) and “The Oval Portrait” (1842). There seems to be a connection between Poe's mother, whom he did not really know, his foster mother and the premature death of his wife with Ligeia's portrayal. The second story follows Poe's personal view that the most poetical topic in the world is the death of a beautiful woman. Approaches to questions such as who are these women and what do they symbolise; what position do they have in the narrator's life and how does their presence or absence affect his feelings within the sequence of events; and what interpretations can we offer with regard to the Gothic background and Poe's life will be offered.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Framing the two works
- Related biographical information
- On Poe's short stories
- Portraying the female
- "Ligeia"
- "The Oval Portrait"
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of women in Edgar Allan Poe's short stories "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait," exploring the connection between Poe's personal life and his fictional creations. It examines the women's symbolic roles, their position within the narratives, and how their presence or absence impacts the narrators' emotional states. The analysis considers the Gothic elements and their contribution to the overall interpretation.
- The influence of Poe's personal life on his depiction of female characters.
- The symbolic representation of women in "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait."
- The role of Gothic elements in shaping the narratives and their interpretations.
- The exploration of themes of death, loss, and madness in Poe's work.
- Analysis of the narrators' emotional states and their relationship with the female characters.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context for the analysis by highlighting Edgar Allan Poe's association with Gothic literature, mystery, and the exploration of dark themes. It introduces the critical perspectives through which Gothic texts can be interpreted, including psychoanalytic and biographical approaches. The chapter also mentions Fisher's suggestion that Poe initially intended to write humorous works, contrasting with his known melancholic style, and posits that the characters in "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait" might have emerged from this unfulfilled project. The introduction concludes by stating the paper's objective: to analyze the portrayal of women in "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait," considering the interplay between Poe's personal life and his literary creations.
Framing the two works: This chapter provides crucial biographical context and literary analysis necessary to understand Poe’s works. The biographical section details Poe’s difficult childhood, marked by the early loss of his mother and the instability of his family life. It emphasizes his relationship with his foster mother, Frances Allan, and the impact of his wife Virginia's death on his writing. The literary section positions Poe as a pioneer of the short story form, emphasizing his focus on 'unity of effect and impression' and his preoccupation with the death of beautiful women within a Gothic aesthetic. It highlights the irrationality and self-destructive tendencies often present in his narratives and the fatalistic nature of events within them. This section links Poe’s biographical experiences to his artistic choices, showing how personal loss profoundly shapes his literary output.
Keywords
Edgar Allan Poe, Gothic literature, short story, female characters, "Ligeia," "The Oval Portrait," death, loss, madness, symbolism, biographical criticism, literary analysis, psychoanalytic criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Female Characters in Edgar Allan Poe's "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait"
What is the overall objective of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the portrayal of women in Edgar Allan Poe's short stories "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait." It explores the connection between Poe's personal life and his fictional creations, examining the women's symbolic roles, their position within the narratives, and how their presence or absence impacts the narrators' emotional states. The analysis also considers the Gothic elements and their contribution to the overall interpretation.
What key themes are explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including the influence of Poe's personal life on his depiction of female characters; the symbolic representation of women in "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait"; the role of Gothic elements in shaping the narratives; themes of death, loss, and madness in Poe's work; and the analysis of the narrators' emotional states and their relationship with the female characters.
What is included in the "Framing the Two Works" chapter?
This chapter provides biographical context and literary analysis. The biographical section details Poe's difficult childhood and the impact of his wife Virginia's death on his writing. The literary section positions Poe within the context of the short story form, highlighting his style and thematic preoccupations. It connects Poe’s biographical experiences to his artistic choices, showing how personal loss profoundly shapes his literary output.
What does the introduction chapter cover?
The introduction establishes the context for the analysis by highlighting Poe's association with Gothic literature and dark themes. It introduces critical perspectives for interpreting Gothic texts and mentions Fisher's suggestion regarding Poe's initial writing intentions. It concludes by stating the paper's objective: to analyze the portrayal of women in "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait," considering the interplay between Poe's personal life and his literary creations.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of the Introduction and the "Framing the Two Works" chapters. These summaries provide an overview of the content and approach of each chapter.
What keywords are associated with this academic paper?
Keywords include: Edgar Allan Poe, Gothic literature, short story, female characters, "Ligeia," "The Oval Portrait," death, loss, madness, symbolism, biographical criticism, literary analysis, and psychoanalytic criticism.
What is the structure of the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents includes an Introduction, a chapter framing the two works (including sections on biographical information and Poe's short stories), and a chapter portraying the female characters in "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait."
- Quote paper
- Dipl. Archäologe / B. Ed. Englisch-Latein Michael Barkas (Author), 2015, Portraits of Women in "Ligeia" and "The Oval Portrait" of Edgar Allan Poe, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/356144
