Edgar Allen Poe
An American author.
Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque
stories including “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “Berenice”
“The Raven”
Poet is startled by raven tapping at chamber door. Raven perches on bust of Pallas Athene and answers questions about dead lover with “Nevermore”.
“The Pit and the Pendulum”
Victim of Spanish Inquisition escapes prison by falling into a pit. Rats save him from knife-swinging pendulum. Rescued by opposing army.
“The Murders in the Rue Morque”
Detective C. Auguste Dupin discovers a mother and daughter were murdered by an “Ourang-Outang”.
“The Purloined Letter”
C. Auguste Dupin solves case of royal woman blackmailed by a cabinet minister on the basis of a compromising letter.
“The Tell-Tale Heart”
Murderer hides body of victim under floor but hears a beating heart and confesses.
“The Fall of the House of Usher”
The narrator visits Roderick Usher. Twin sister Madeline Usher emerges from burial vault. House and family destroyed.
“Ulalume”
Narrator and his soul walk in woodland on Halloween following Venus and are stopped by door of forgotten tomb of beloved Ulalume.
“The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym”
New England Boy steals away on a whaler. He drifts toward South Pole in a canoe.
“Ligeia”
Ligeia dies and husband marries Rowena, who dies and turns into Ligeia.
“The Masque of the Red Death”
Castle masquerade ball during Plague years: Prince Prospero.
“The Gold Bug”
Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina: William Le Grand discovers cipher telling of buried trover, and drops beetle through one eye of a skull.