Edgar Allan Poe

In my experience, I have found Edgar Allan Poe's works to be an irreplaceable tool in the classroom. Not only does he use and demonstrate countless literary techniques, he also manages to captivate his readers. Even in classrooms where there may be a higher rate of resistant readers, Poe still manages to capture everyone's attention. He creates an element of surprise, suspense, and mystery in all of his works. The suspense keeps readers hanging on until the very last word. Poe's works are also easy to combine with popular culture, especially with example, such as the episode of the Simpsons that reenacts "The Fall of the House of Usher." His biographical information in itself is a mystery, as well, drawing the students in once more. While "The Raven" isn't my favorite work of his, I do love "The Fall of the House of Usher." I think it's an outstanding example of what someone can do in just the limited space of a short story. I would love to use this in a creative writing classroom -- reading it before asking my students to craft their own short story while trying to employ the technique of suspense. I would also love to use it when discussing characters and character development in order to show the students how a character in a story can signify more than just the people. In FHU, the house really becomes its own character with all of its personifying qualities. I love bringing Poe into the classroom just as I can hear the students start groaning about "yet another classic," as students always seem to be surprised about how much they enjoy reading his works. He is one writer that I don't think will ever be replaced by a more modern piece, as his techniques, tone, and literary elements are irreplaceable in the world of literature.