Edgar Allan Poe?s ?The Philosophy of Composition? :: essays research papers

Shortly after Edgar Allan Poe had completed his masterpiece, The Raven and exchange it for $15 in 1845, he composed an essay entitled The philosophical system of Composition. In the essay, he claims that compose a poem was a methodical process, much like solving a mathematical problem. Poe evince that a poem should be read and enjoyed in one sitting, indeed concluding that a poem should be around 100 lines coherent (The Raven was 108 lines long). Poe also states that his method of writing a poem consists of writing it backwards. Each section of the poem relies heavily upon alliteration and alternating inner rhythms.      Poe used a method to appeal to both popular and unfavourable tastes by hitting upon the most melancholic of all subjects the death of a beautiful woman. "The deathof a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poeticalal topic in the world and equally is it beyond the doubt that the lips outperform suited for such topic are tho se of a bereaved yellowish brown". Of all the stems, he chose death, because it was an emotion that everyone can relate to. Poe believed that the most poetic use of the theme death was the death of a beautiful woman. Having the theme and subject planned out, he composed his poem backwards, adding uses of the word nevermore. The alliteration of nevermore builds tension, stanza by stanza. Poe wanted to create poetry of feeling, to be able to relate the reader with the narrator.      However, it has been suggested that The Philosophy of Composition was a hoax, and it is unlikely that it is an account of his poem, The Raven. Scholars are skeptical because he enjoys revealing his secrets a little too much in that he loved to let off and analyze his writing skills.