The play of the orchestra strikes up in a dark and sluggish manner. Its compact sonority spreads like milky fog which starts blurring and covering all familiar elements before the human eye. Slowly, an imaginative chill seems to surround the listener. An overture that causes a slight shudder and sharpens all senses… Then, Joachim Kerzel – the German voice of Jack Nicholson - starts off:
„Das jene großen Mächte oder Wesen überlebt haben ist denkbar. Ein Überleben aus einer ungeheuer fernen Zeit, als Bewusstsein sich bildete. Vielleicht in Formen, die lange vor dem Heraufdämmern der Menschheit wieder verschwanden. Formen, von denen einzig Dichtung und Sage eine nebulöse Erinnerung bewahrt haben...“ This is the opening sequence of Der Cthulhu Mythos, an audio book published by LPL Records in 2002. It comprises horror stories by Howard Phillips Lovecraft and Ambrose Bierce. In 2003 the production was awarded with two prizes: Bestes Hörbuch des Jahres 2003, as well as Deutscher Phantastik Preis 2003. According to the company´s principle “Gänsehaut für die Ohren”, LPL Records specializes in producing audio books of horror tales. Having five other stories by H. P. Lovecraft in stock, the author from Providence, Rhode Island, can be seen as their primal draw. Just one year later, H. P. Lovecraft´s novella Der Schatten über Innsmouth was also nominated for Bestes Hörbuch des Jahres 2004 and won the Deutscher Phantastik Preis 2004 again.
Among this genre, there is only one author whose horror tales can be considered as almost equally successful: his name is Edgar Allan Poe. In late 2003 Lübbe Audio published four of his short stories to start a new Edgar Allan Poe series. A firstperson narrator and protagonist, who suffers from severe memory-loss, relives the horrors of Poe´s tales in his dreams. The quest for the narrator´s true personality and the reason of his amnesia creates the frame-story of this continuing series. Therefore, Poe´s stories work as a key to his past. Meanwhile, another four stories continue the sequence, and four more will be published in September 2005. This year, Lübbe Audio´s Poe series is expected to receive an award for more than 250.000 sold copies – an enormous success for audio books, especially of this genre!
Table of Contents
The Route - An Introduction
1. The Passenger - Biographical Aspects
A Gentleman of Providence
Parallels in the Lives of E. A. Poe and H. P. Lovecraft
2. The Vehicle - On Writing Horror Fiction
3. Driving the Road to Madness - Poe´s Legacy in Lovecraft´s Fiction
“The Rats In The Walls”
4. Reading the Traces - A Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the literary influence of Edgar Allan Poe on the horror fiction of H. P. Lovecraft. The study explores biographical parallels, their shared theoretical philosophies regarding horror writing, and conducts a detailed analysis of Lovecraft's tale "The Rats in the Walls" to identify specific stylistic and thematic borrowings from Poe.
- Biographical intersections between Poe and Lovecraft
- Theoretical foundations of horror fiction and "unity of effect"
- Analysis of Poe's legacy in Lovecraft’s narrative techniques
- Psychological depth and the use of the "neurotic narrator"
- Symbolism and the atmosphere of fear in horror literature
Excerpt from the Book
“The Rats in the Walls”
In 1918, a member of the “Delapore” family from Bolton, Massachusetts, buys a mansion near the English town Anchester, called Exham Priory. Since 1261, the manor had belonged to his ancestors of the “de la Poer”-family. But in the early 17th century - due to mysterious reasons - Walter de la Poer kills all family members, flees to Virginia and founds the new “Delapore”-dynasty. Since then, Exham Priory has remained untenanted and is shunned by the villagers of Anchester.
Nevertheless, the protagonist renovates the Priory and moves into the house in 1923, along with several servants and cats. One of them is his favourite cat “Nigger-Man” that he even shares his bedroom with. Shortly after moving in, the protagonist and the cats hear the sound of rats behind the old walls late at night. First, it is just a silent rustle, but the more nights come, the louder it becomes. Nightmares start to haunt the protagonist. Since he finds out that the animal sounds move downwards to the cellar, he asks his friend Captain Norrys to accompany him finding their cause.
Summary of Chapters
The Route - An Introduction: Provides an overview of the enduring popularity of both authors and establishes the research goal: identifying Poe's influence on Lovecraft.
1. The Passenger - Biographical Aspects: Explores the lives of both authors, highlighting shared experiences like early loss and a mutual affinity for the "sombre and bizarre."
2. The Vehicle - On Writing Horror Fiction: Discusses the authors' theories on constructing horror, specifically the importance of "unity of effect" and atmosphere.
3. Driving the Road to Madness - Poe´s Legacy in Lovecraft´s Fiction: Applies the theoretical findings to "The Rats in the Walls," demonstrating how Lovecraft adopted Poe’s stylistic and psychological devices.
4. Reading the Traces - A Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and confirms that Lovecraft deeply integrated Poe's motifs both consciously and subconsciously.
Keywords
Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Horror Fiction, The Rats in the Walls, Literary Influence, Unity of Effect, Biographical Parallels, Gothic Literature, Psychological Analysis, Short Story, Atmosphere, Fear, Narrator, Schizophrenia, Supernatural Horror
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the extent to which Edgar Allan Poe influenced the literary style and horror fiction of H. P. Lovecraft.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
Key themes include the construction of atmosphere, the psychological state of the protagonist, the concept of the "unity of effect," and biographical parallels between the two authors.
What is the main research question?
The research seeks to identify how Lovecraft (consciously or subconsciously) adopted elements from Poe's writing and philosophy into his own work.
Which scientific method is utilized in this study?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, reviewing biographical data and the authors' own essays on writing before performing a textual analysis of Lovecraft’s "The Rats in the Walls."
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers biographical backgrounds, comparative analysis of horror writing theories, and an in-depth exploration of motifs in "The Rats in the Walls" related to Poe's style.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Important keywords include horror fiction, literary influence, unity of effect, psychological narrator, and Gothic legacy.
How does the author interpret the protagonist's name change in "The Rats in the Walls"?
The author interprets the transition from "Delapore" to "de la Poer" as a symbolic division of the human psyche, representing the emergence of a "counter-ego."
What role does the cat "Nigger-Man" play in the comparison?
The author compares the role of the cat to the animal in Poe’s "The Black Cat," noting that in both stories, the animal acts as a symbolic companion that ultimately leads to the protagonist's ruin.
- Quote paper
- Frank Brinkmann (Author), 2005, Following the Road to Madness - The literary influence of Edgar Allan Poe on Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/43261
