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In the tale proper--where there is no space for development of character or for great profusion and variety of incident--mere construction is, of course, far more imperatively demanded than in the novel.

Edgar Allan Poe

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Edgar Allan Poe
Age: 40 †
Born: 1809
Born: January 19
Died: 1849
Died: October 7
Author
Crime Writer
Essayist
Journalist
Literary Critic
Literary Theorist
Lyricist
Novelist
Playwright
Poet
Science Fiction Writer
Writer
Boston
Massachusetts
Poe
Edgar Poe
E. A. Poe
Mere
Incident
Development
Demanded
Novel
Incidents
Courses
Tale
Course
Construction
Space
Proper
Character
Tales
Great
Variety
Profusion

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And travellers, now, within that valley, Through the red-litten windows see Vast forms, that move fantastically To a discordant melody, While, like a ghastly rapid river, Through the pale door A hideous throng rush out forever And laugh — but smile no more.
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The greater amount of truth is impulsively uttered thus the greater amount is spoken, not written.
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Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.
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A gentleman with a pug nose is a contradiction in terms.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Alas! for that accursed time They bore thee o'er the billow, From love to titled age and crime, And an unholy pillow! From me, and from our misty clime, Where weeps the silver willow!
Edgar Allan Poe
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Marking a book is literally an experience of your differences or agreements with the author. It is the highest respect you can pay him.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Beauty is the sole legitimate province of the poem.
Edgar Allan Poe
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I have before suggested that a genuine blackguard is never without a pocket-handkerchief.
Edgar Allan Poe
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But our love was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we Of many far wiser than we And neither the angels in heaven above, Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
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A fool, for example, thinks Shakespeare a great poet . . . yet the fool has never read Shakespeare.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!
Edgar Allan Poe
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The rain came down upon my head - Unshelter'd. And the wind rendered me mad and deaf and blind.
Edgar Allan Poe
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And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me — filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door — Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door — This it is, and nothing more.
Edgar Allan Poe
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With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.
Edgar Allan Poe
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I have been happy, though in a dream. I have been happy-and I love the theme: Dreams! in their vivid colouring of life As in that fleeting, shadowy, misty strife
Edgar Allan Poe
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I could have clasped the red walls to my bosom as a garment of eternal peace. Death, I said, any death but that of the pit! Fool! might I have not known that into the pit it was the object of the burning iron to urge me?
Edgar Allan Poe
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Mysteries force a man to think, and so injure his health.
Edgar Allan Poe
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When a madman appears thoroughly sane, indeed, it is high time to put him in a straight jacket.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Dreams are the eraser dust I blow off my page. They fade into the emptiness, another dark gray day. Dreams are only memories of the plans I had back then. Dreams are eraser dust and now I use a pen.
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-ev'n with us the breath Of Science dims the mirror of our joy.
Edgar Allan Poe