The aim of the present thesis is to analyse the dark sides of human nature in the literary works by the two prominent American writers, Edgar Allan Poe and Flannery O’Connor. The thesis presents the types of characters whose behaviour is stigmatized with madness, brutality and alienation.
The introduction portrays Poe’s and O’Connor’s profiles in comparison with their contemporary writers. The differences between Edgar Allan Poe and other representatives of Romanticism are discussed. Comparably, the reader is acquainted with these features of Flannery O’Connor’s innovative writing that enriched the literary tradition of American South. The introduction presents the major themes of E. A. Poe’s and F. O’Connor’s fiction, such as inner conflict, death wish, violence and mental deformities.
The first chapter describes the impact of the writers’ life experiences and personal interests on their literary output. The chapter mentions the traumatic experiences from the authors’ lives, such as Poe’s early orphanhood and O’Connor’s combat with her incurable disease. The chapter is also devoted to the writers’ fascination with a sphere of human psyche and their interest in psychopathology. The aim of the second chapter is to depict the heroes whose depravation is so extreme that they lose the ability to decide about themselves and are subjected to the influence of a mysterious force to regain their internal balance. The force is meant to free these figures from their anguish and internal chaos. The third chapter presents the picture of intellectual in Poe’s and O’Connor’s short stories. This figure aims at exceeding the limits of human mind. As a result, he suppresses his spirit. The chapter portrays contrasting views of both authors on the issue of human intellect. The aim of the fourth chapter is to acquaint the reader with emotions of the characters who experience the conflict with the world and are driven to self-destruction. The conflict, whose main sources are evil and emotional devastation, is presented in such stories as “William Wilson” by E. A. Poe and “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” by F. O’Connor.
The last part of the thesis presents the aims Poe and O’Connor had in portraying odd and deviant behaviour.
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- II. Chapter 1: Poe's and O'Connor's Fascination with Deviant Behaviour Its Source and Reflection in Their Short Stories
- III. Chapter 2: The Impact of the Mysterious Force on the Degenerate Characters' Transformation
- IV. Chapter 3: The Portrait of the Intellectual in E. A. Poe's and F. O'Connor's Short Stories
- V. Chapter 4: The Mind in Conflict with the Whole World - "William Wilson" and "The Life You Save May Be Your Own"
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis aims to analyze the portrayal of odd and deviant behavior in selected short stories by Edgar Allan Poe and Flannery O'Connor. It explores the similarities and differences in their approaches, considering the historical context and the authors' personal lives.
- The representation of deviant behavior in Poe and O'Connor's short stories.
- The influence of personal experiences on the authors' literary themes.
- Comparison of Poe and O'Connor's literary styles and techniques.
- Exploration of the psychological and sociological aspects of the characters' behavior.
- Analysis of the authors' place within their respective literary periods.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: Poe's and O'Connor's Fascination with Deviant Behaviour Its Source and Reflection in Their Short Stories: This chapter delves into the common ground shared by Poe and O'Connor in their fascination with aberrant behavior. It examines the sources of this fascination, exploring biographical details of both authors, including Poe's troubled childhood and O'Connor's religious upbringing, to understand how their life experiences might have influenced their literary choices. The chapter further analyzes how this fascination manifests in their short stories, comparing the types of deviant behavior depicted and the techniques used to portray them. The chapter highlights the shared interest in exploring the dark side of human nature despite the significant time gap between their works, and the authors’ remarkably realistic depiction of mental instability and dysfunction. It sets the stage for subsequent chapters by establishing the core thematic similarities and differences in their literary output.
Chapter 2: The Impact of the Mysterious Force on the Degenerate Characters' Transformation: This chapter analyzes how an external, mysterious force influences the transformation of the authors' degenerate characters. It examines how these forces, whether supernatural or societal, impact the characters' psychological states and actions. The chapter likely contrasts and compares the kinds of forces at work in Poe's and O'Connor's stories, exploring how these forces shape the narratives and drive the plots forward. Examples from specific stories will likely be used to illustrate the transformative power of these mysterious elements and their role in furthering the overarching themes of deviance and psychological turmoil. This chapter expands on the themes introduced in Chapter 1 by investigating the external factors that contribute to the characters’ aberrant behavior.
Chapter 3: The Portrait of the Intellectual in E. A. Poe's and F. O'Connor's Short Stories: This chapter focuses on the portrayal of intellectual characters in the short stories of both authors. It analyzes the characteristics of these characters, their intellectual pursuits, and how their intellect interacts with or contributes to their deviant behavior. The chapter likely contrasts Poe’s intellectual characters with O'Connor's, noting potential similarities and differences in their portrayals. It examines how intelligence is depicted in relation to madness, moral corruption, or other forms of deviance. The chapter uses detailed literary analysis of selected stories to support its claims and strengthens the overarching analysis by focusing on a specific character archetype prevalent in both authors’ works.
Chapter 4: The Mind in Conflict with the Whole World - "William Wilson" and "The Life You Save May Be Your Own": This chapter conducts a comparative analysis of two specific short stories: Poe's "William Wilson" and O'Connor's "The Life You Save May Be Your Own." It focuses on the central theme of the mind in conflict with the external world, examining how the internal struggles of the protagonists manifest in their actions and interactions with their environment. The chapter likely uses close reading and literary analysis to illuminate the narrative structures and thematic developments of each story, highlighting similarities and differences in how the authors explore themes of internal conflict and its consequences. This analysis will provide further evidence for the broader thesis concerning the portrayal of aberrant behavior in the chosen authors' works.
Keywords
Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor, short stories, deviant behavior, psychological analysis, literary comparison, dark themes, character analysis, American literature, mental illness, moral corruption, supernatural elements, inner conflict.
FAQ: Analysis of Deviant Behavior in Poe and O'Connor's Short Stories
What is the main topic of this thesis?
This thesis analyzes the portrayal of odd and deviant behavior in selected short stories by Edgar Allan Poe and Flannery O'Connor. It explores similarities and differences in their approaches, considering historical context and the authors' personal lives.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
Key themes include the representation of deviant behavior in Poe and O'Connor's short stories; the influence of personal experiences on their literary themes; a comparison of their literary styles and techniques; exploration of the psychological and sociological aspects of their characters' behavior; and an analysis of the authors' place within their respective literary periods.
What is covered in Chapter 1?
Chapter 1 delves into Poe and O'Connor's shared fascination with aberrant behavior. It examines the sources of this fascination (biographical details, life experiences), how it manifests in their short stories, and compares their techniques for portraying deviant behavior. It highlights their shared interest in the dark side of human nature and their realistic depiction of mental instability.
What is the focus of Chapter 2?
Chapter 2 analyzes how external, mysterious forces (supernatural or societal) influence the transformation of degenerate characters in Poe and O'Connor's stories. It compares the types of forces, their impact on characters' psychology and actions, and their role in shaping the narratives.
What does Chapter 3 analyze?
Chapter 3 focuses on the portrayal of intellectual characters in both authors' short stories. It analyzes their characteristics, intellectual pursuits, and how their intellect interacts with their deviant behavior. It contrasts Poe's and O'Connor's portrayals and examines the relationship between intelligence and madness, moral corruption, or other forms of deviance.
What is the subject of Chapter 4?
Chapter 4 conducts a comparative analysis of Poe's "William Wilson" and O'Connor's "The Life You Save May Be Your Own," focusing on the mind's conflict with the external world. It examines how internal struggles manifest in the protagonists' actions and interactions, using close reading to illuminate narrative structures and thematic developments.
What are the keywords associated with this thesis?
Keywords include Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor, short stories, deviant behavior, psychological analysis, literary comparison, dark themes, character analysis, American literature, mental illness, moral corruption, supernatural elements, and inner conflict.
What is the overall structure of the document preview?
The preview includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords, providing a comprehensive overview of the thesis.
What type of analysis is primarily used in this thesis?
The thesis utilizes a comparative literary analysis approach, focusing on thematic similarities and differences between Poe and O'Connor's works, supported by close readings of specific stories and character analysis.
For what purpose is this document intended?
This document is an academic preview, intended for scholarly use and analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner.
- Quote paper
- Anna Broda (Author), 2008, Odd and deviant behaviour in selected short stories by Edgar Allan Poe and Flannery O'Connor, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/90527
