Edgar Allan Poe is generally regarded as one of the most important and famous American
authors. He wrote many short stories, poems and reviews. This term paper has not the aim to
concentrate on his whole work but to examine a certain story.
The writer is especially famous for his “ tales of ratiocination” (Carlson 319). One of these
stories, “ The Murders in the Rue Morgue” , shall be the central subject of this paper. Poe
himself commented on this story to be “ something in a new key” (Silverman 173). What I
want to prove throughout this work is why “ Rue Morgue” nowadays signifies not only
VRPHWKLQJ that was new, but the prototype of the modern detective story (a thesis we find in
most of the literary encyclopaedias).
For reaching a satisfactory final result, it is necessary to have, at first, a look at the
definition of the “ short prose narrative” (Ahrends 19), which was given by Poe himself. This
term is closely connected to the “ tales of ratiocination” in which the usage of Poe’s primary
principles reaches nearly perfection. This “ perfection” is above all to be found in the story
“ Rue Morgue” , one of the best examples of Poe’s writing skills and the beginning of the
creation of a new establishing literary genre. The analysis of the “ Rue Morgue” will try to
justify this thesis. Therefore, a further look at the main characters, the structure of the story,
the reader’s expected reaction and more is required.
Finally, this working process shall lead me to my actual aim: The justification of the
prototypical character of the “ Rue Morgue” for (modern) detective fiction by summarizing the
important features and elements of this literary genre. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Poe´s Theoretical Approach to the Short Story
3. “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”
3.1 Background
3.2 Structural Examination
3.3 The Main Characters
3.3.1 C. Auguste Dupin
3.3.2 The Narrator
3.4 Reader and Effect
3.5 Theme?
4. Conclusion – The Prototypical Character
5. Works Cited
6. Appendix – “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary aim of this academic paper is to justify the status of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" as the prototype for the modern detective story. By analyzing the structural composition, character development, and the intended psychological effect on the reader, the author explores how Poe established the fundamental elements of a new literary genre.
- Theoretical foundations of Poe's "short prose narrative" and "tales of ratiocination."
- Structural examination of the detective story as a precisely planned, unified work.
- Characterization of the analytical detective (C. Auguste Dupin) and the role of the narrator.
- The psychological impact on the reader, specifically regarding suspense, curiosity, and satisfaction.
- Identification of the prototypical narrative scheme common to modern detective fiction.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Structural Examination
Since I argued at the beginning of the term paper that the “Rue Morgue” serves as the prototype of the modern detective story, it is necessary to have a look on its structure. What is so special and characteristic about it that it could become the prototype for detective stories? Does the story contain the necessary elements and features, which were mentioned by Poe to create a good and effective story?
Concerning to Poe’s theory on the short tale, the story as a whole has to form a unity. This is what we find in “Rue Morgue” as it seems to be a precisely constructed and well-planned story. At the beginning, we have a quotation that represents the motto for the whole story: It is assumed that any human mind has the capability of solving a riddle that was created by any other human mind (Buchloh 35). This human characteristic of being able to solve almost all mysterious problems leads the reader to the assumption that this story will deal with something explainable and not abstract, artificial or imaginative. The reader does not expect a mysterious or preternatural story. Therefore, even the initial sentence produces a certain atmosphere, which influences the attitude of the reader. That will finally help to reach the intended effect – an important condition stated by Poe.
The motto is followed by a scientific essay on the analytical power of the human being. It provides different thesises, which are going to be justified or proved by the story itself: an analytical mind has more value than a just calculating mind and “the analyst is necessarily ingenious, the ingenious man is often remarkably incapable of analysis.” (Morgue 2-4). This essay is not placed at the beginning of the story because the author wanted to present his personal opinion about a specific subject. His target was to prepare the reader, who should expect an extraordinary proof of the stated arguments.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's focus on Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" as the blueprint for the modern detective genre.
2. Poe´s Theoretical Approach to the Short Story: This section details Poe's literary theories regarding unity of effect and the conscious, analytical construction of short tales.
3. “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”: This comprehensive central chapter analyzes the historical background, structure, characters, reader impact, and thematic elements of the story.
4. Conclusion – The Prototypical Character: The final chapter summarizes how the story's structure and character types established a persistent model for detective fiction.
5. Works Cited: A bibliography listing the academic sources and texts utilized in the analysis.
6. Appendix – “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”: This section contains the primary text of the story analyzed within the paper.
Keywords
Edgar Allan Poe, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, detective fiction, ratiocination, C. Auguste Dupin, structural analysis, short story theory, literary genre, analytical mind, suspense, unity of effect, narrative construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" to demonstrate that it serves as the foundational prototype for the modern detective story.
What are the primary themes explored in the work?
The main themes include the theory of short prose narrative, the construction of detective fiction, the role of analytical versus calculating intellect, and the psychological relationship between the text and the reader.
What is the author's primary research goal?
The goal is to justify the "prototypical character" of the story by identifying specific narrative features and elements that define the detective fiction genre.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a structural and comparative analysis, evaluating the story against Poe's own theories of short story composition and looking at common tropes found in later works like those of Arthur Conan Doyle.
What does the main part of the paper cover?
The main body covers the theoretical background, a structural breakdown of the crime and its solution, the characterization of the detective and his friend, and the strategic manipulation of reader suspense.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include "detective fiction," "ratiocination," "unity of effect," "analytical mind," and "narrative structure."
How does the author define the relationship between Dupin and the narrator?
The author describes a relationship of intellectual hierarchy where the narrator acts as a connector between the reader and the detective, serving as an admiring witness to Dupin's superior analytical abilities.
Why does the author argue that the story is "well-constructed"?
The author contends that Poe meticulously planned the story with the end in mind, ensuring that every word serves the intended psychological effect on the reader, fitting his definition of an economical and unified work.
- Quote paper
- Julia Schubert (Author), 2002, Edgar Allan Poe - The Murders in the Rue Morgue - A Tale of Ratiocination and the Prototype for Detective Stories, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/7291
