Content:
1. Introduction……….………………………………………………………………....…3
2. Reception: European view on Edgar Allan Poe’s works ...…………………………....3
2.1 Great Britain ...………………............................................................................4
2.2 France ...………………………..........................................................................4
3. Poe’s reputation in America …….……………………………………………………..5
4.1 Influence on Poe ...…………………...……………………………………….....…......7
4.2 Influence of Poe ….……………………………………………………………………7
5. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………...…….10
6. Bibliography ..........................................................................................................11
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Reception: European view on Edgar Allan Poe’s works
2.1 Great Britain
2.2 France
3. Poe’s reputation in America
4.1 Influence on Poe
4.2 Influence of Poe
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the disparity between Edgar Allan Poe's lack of initial success in his native United States and his profound influence and high reputation within European literature, particularly in France and Great Britain. The research explores how biographical factors, literary criticism, and cultural differences shaped the divergent reception of his work.
- The comparative literary reception of Poe in the USA versus Europe.
- The role of key figures like Charles Baudelaire in popularizing Poe.
- Analysis of Poe's problematic relationship with American critics like Rufus Griswold.
- The evolution of Poe's literary reputation over time.
- Poe's foundational influence on the genres of horror, detective fiction, and science fiction.
Excerpt from the Book
2. European view on Edgar Allan Poe’s works
In Europe, Edgar Allan Poe was of high reputation. In France Baudelaire and Valéry were highly interested in his writings. In Great Britain Swinburne, Dickens or Wilde thought highly of him, just to name a few. But also in Germany he attracted the interest of its greatest writers. Here, Rilke, Nietzsche and Kafka occupied themselves with Poe and his imaginative power – and also his escape into the imagination. In Germany Poe met with little positive response on the level of serious literature, although publishers earned themselves a lot of money with a high number of sold copies.
Although he wrote different kinds of literature the name “Poe” provokes in every reader the idea of horror. But there is a lot more to discover than the famous horror fictions.
In the USA it was more difficult for Poe to establish his works. Because of personal enemies slandering his name, and with the background of his way of life, other critics and writers branded him as a failure. Charles Baudelaire said that Edgar Poe and his fatherland were not at the same level: “The United States is a country enormous and childlike at the same time, and naturally jealous of the old continent.”
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central paradox of Poe's career, highlighting his early failures in America versus his eventual acclaim, and establishes the essay's goal to investigate these regional differences.
2. Reception: European view on Edgar Allan Poe’s works: This chapter analyzes how European intellectuals and writers, particularly in France, Germany, and Britain, recognized Poe's literary genius long before his own countrymen.
2.1 Great Britain: This section explores how Poe was viewed by British critics and writers, noting the support he received from figures like Charles Dickens despite the general resistance to American literature at the time.
2.2 France: This section details the critical role of Charles Baudelaire in translating and championing Poe, framing him as a "poète maudit" and identifying personal and intellectual parallels between the two authors.
3. Poe’s reputation in America: This chapter addresses the specific challenges Poe faced in the US, focusing on his hostile relationship with his editor Rufus Griswold and the damaging impact of personal scandals on his literary legacy.
4.1 Influence on Poe: This section discusses the European literary traditions, such as the Gothic and the works of Byron and Shelley, that shaped Poe's early creative development and his shift toward prose.
4.2 Influence of Poe: This section examines Poe's enduring impact on subsequent generations of writers, including the evolution of detective and crime fiction and his influence on authors like Stevenson, Conrad, and Doyle.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes Poe's role as a model for posterity and reflects on how his work ultimately catalyzed shifts in both European and American literary landscapes.
6. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources and critical works consulted for the analysis of Poe's life and influence.
Keywords
Edgar Allan Poe, Literary Reception, Charles Baudelaire, Rufus Griswold, Detective Fiction, Horror Literature, American Literature, European Influence, Gothic, Poetic Principle, Literary Criticism, 19th Century, Cultural Studies, Literary Translation, Literary Biography.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the divergent reception of Edgar Allan Poe's work, contrasting his lack of success in the United States during his lifetime with his significant influence and popularity in Europe.
What are the main thematic fields explored?
The core themes include literary reputation, the impact of personal biography on artistic appraisal, the role of literary translation, and the evolution of genre fiction like the detective story.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to identify the reasons for Poe's initial failure in the United States and the factors that contributed to his successful reception and long-lasting influence in Europe.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The work utilizes a comparative, historical, and literary analysis approach, drawing upon existing academic literature and biographical data to evaluate the cross-cultural reception of Poe's body of work.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The body covers the contrasting views on Poe in France and Great Britain, the smear campaign led by Rufus Griswold in America, and an evaluation of how Poe's own influences shaped his writing, as well as his subsequent influence on authors like Stevenson and Doyle.
What key terms characterize the paper?
Key terms include "reception," "influence," "Griswold," "Baudelaire," "detective fiction," and "literary legacy."
How did Rufus Griswold impact Poe's reputation?
Griswold, acting as Poe's literary executor and editor, actively sought to ruin Poe's reputation by spreading gossip and framing his literary work as a reflection of an "evil" character.
Why did Baudelaire feel a deep connection to Poe?
Baudelaire identified with Poe due to shared biographical struggles, a similar intellectual outlook, and an appreciation for the "aesthetic of terror," which led him to translate and champion Poe's works in France.
- Quote paper
- Max Abt (Author), 2005, Edgar Allan Poe and Europe - Reception and Influence, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/45673
