Patrick F. Quinn states that Edgar Allan Poe wrote poems at an age “too young to have any knowledge of the world but from his own breast,” and attributes Poe’s decision to leave flaws in his “smaller pieces” intact to “[fondness fostered by] his old age” (Quinn 9). While readers might insinuate the value of Poe’s earliest writings as of little consequence from Quinn’s preface, hoc novimus est nihil—we know this is nothing. All of Poe’s writings offer insight into humanity’s corporeal condition, especially those composed during his youth. If man reaches other worlds only through shedding himself of his body, then his reach grasps closest to the great beyond when man nears his conception and death. Thus, even Poe’s “[smallest] writings hold value. The following introduction seeks to bring forth the value of eight of Poe’s pieces by unearthing an inner trend: Poe’s writings depict a poet, who while still alive, aspires to enter other worlds, but also provides readers a chronological account illuminating man’s transformation into Unity. I intend this edition for those near death, who wish to conceptualize their impending transformation to the best of their living abilities. Still, this edition also offers consolation for those recently suffering the loss of a beloved. Interwoven, Poe’s writings assuage humanity’s ubiquitous fear of the unknown: the horror that is Death. To accomplish the task of reaching as many readers as possible, I position a selection of Poe’s writings in a familiar format from antiquity. Ovid’s Metamorphoses (8 CE) documents numerous transformations of men; however, his characters typically take the form of flora or fauna. Although in transition, Ovid’s men always reside in the land of the living. We must move to an earlier text. Poe’s writings lie at a position, osculating between life and death, more similar to the Egyptians’ Book of Coming Forth by Day (~1550 BCE), commonly referred to as the “Book of the Dead.” Both collections work to simultaneously pull closer the other realm and extend man’s reach through various literary devices. Furthermore, Poe’s writings grasp to relay man’s experience of entering into an other-worldly state in a manner akin to ancient Egyptians’ codified approach to the afterlife. A strong resemblance emerges between the two collections’ approaches to Death and the afterlife—in nigh an uncannily fashion—the further this edition pursues its inquiry. By interlaying Poe’s writings within four sections of the “Book of the Dead,” we stand to gain insight into Death’s mysteries.

Last modified

• 12/03/2018

Creator

• Lydia E. Wuorinen

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N2MX8F

Keyword

• Egyptian "Book of the Dead"
• Prose
• Edgar Allan Poe
• Poetry

Date created

• 2018

Resource type

• Research Paper

Rights statement

• In Copyright