The+Sleeper+by+Edgar+Allen+Poe

Write an essay discussing the following points:
 * 1) Thoroughly show how the work of literature fits the definition of Romanticism.
 * 2) Show how the writer’s life affected his/her work.
 * 3) Show how the work compares in style, character, theme, etc. to other works by the author __and__ to your other assigned work.

//D////elete this text and replace it with your answer// //- be sure to use MLA parenthetical citations and place your Works Cited list at the bottom of the page//

Edgar Allan Poe is known for his undeniable contribution to the literary community. His dark writing style reflected Romanticism pieces. With the use of strong imagery, dark themes, and Romanticist aspects, Poe effectively established his place in the always altering literary community. Poe's piece, //The Sleeper,// allows readers to retain a definitive idea of the mysterious writers intentions. Poe uses imagery to establish his ideas in his work. In //The Sleeper,// Poe creates an eerie environment in which his characters inhabit. In the piece, Poe depicts a lady in a long dress. With various descriptions of her sleep and the atmosphere, readers can understand Poe's deep, yet dark Romanticist intentions. In a brief summary of Edgar Allan Poe's life, a look into the author's intentions and accomplishments are revealed. His personal life is quite reputable as well, often being known for his addiction to drugs and alcohol (Werlock, Abby.Poe, Edgar Allan). As well as this addiction to drugs and alcohol, he seems to be known for his peculiar marriage to his thirteen year old cousin. This abnormal personal life helped establish Poe's name and image. Poe is reputable for his peculiar connection to Dark Romanticism, yet his personal life is just as infatuating; //The Sleeper// is an adequate example of Poe's contribution to the literary community.

Born on January 19, 1809, Poe resided in Boston, Massachusetts with his father and mother. His parents were talented actors during this time, which allowed Poe to grow up in an artistically driven household. After Poe's expulsion from the University of Virginia and West Point, he began to write stories. After the expulsion, Poe began to edit various pieces and magazines. Works such as the //Southern Literary Messenger// and //The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym// were common pieces that the significant author was connected with (Werlock). Although he edited literary pieces, his individual work is what he is mainly known for; his personal life seems to intrigue many young supporters and scholars as well (Werlock). Throughout Poe's short-lived life, he often partook in abnormal and unhealthy acts, which can be closely related to his peculiar work in the literary community. Poe was an active abuser of alcohol and drugs (Werlock). His death, at the young age of forty years old, is not entirely known. Due to this unknown death, more speculation and infatuation with Edgar Allan Poe's abnormal life and work is aroused. His personal life only reflects the famous pieces that were written in this period of time.

At midnight, in the month of June, I stand beneath the mystic moon. An opiate vapor, dewy, dim, Exhales from out her golden rim, And, softly dripping, drop by drop, Upon the quiet mountain top, Steals drowsily and musically Into the universal valley. The rosemary nods upon the grave; The lily lolls upon the wave; Wrapping the fog about its breast, The ruin molders into rest; Looking like Lethe, see! the lake A conscious slumber seems to take, And would not, for the world, awake. All Beauty sleeps!- and lo! where lies Irene, with her Destinies!

In this excerpt from Poe's piece, //The Sleeper,// the author's effective language and imagery is displayed. Poe is known for displaying a vivid description of his characters and the environment in which these infatuating characters inhabit. The excerpt uses eerie vocabulary in order to obtain this strong imagery. With words such as "mystic moon and opiate vapor," readers can retain a more spiritually connect perspective of Edgar Allan Poe. This spiritual connection is a common usage in Romanticist pieces. Edgar Allan Poe, falling into a more Dark Romanticist category, uses this spiritual connection as well as a strong use of abnormal and eerie imagery. To convey this dark Romanticist guideline, Poe uses language such as "grave, rest, slumber, and lies." This vocabulary effectively conveys Poe's intentions and quota of writing a dark Romanticist piece. In a more spiritual relation, Poe uses the connection with a higher power to speak of the woman in the dress. After this use of spiritual connection, Poe refers back to a strong use of imagery and dark vocabulary. "My love, she sleeps! Oh, may her sleep. As it is lasting, so be deep! Soft may the worms about her creep!" The statement is taken from //The Sleeper// as well//.// In this excerpt, the author uses eerie language to justify his dark stance in the literary community. This is a relative idea between most of Poe's individual literary pieces.

Throughout the poem, readers begin to understand the overall theme. Poe creates a melancholy environment in which the protagonist cannot escape. The main character of the literary piece cannot accept his lover's death. His pain adds for a darker, romantically inclined poem. With his use of strong literary devices, Poe can effectively establish a dark Romanticist piece. In the piece, the protagonist can only continue to mourn due to his lover's inability to allow him to move on. Throughout the entire poem, Poe uses characters such as ghosts to successfully describe this grueling mourning process. Poe also uses the lover's description in dream often. Twisted details and romanticized resolutions allow the protagonist to improve the coping process. Although the protagonist believes his lover is in an eternal sleep, he negates the fact that he is in a deep dream in which he cannot wake up. By placing this into the poem, Poe can relate Dark Romanticism through the use of imagery, spiritual connection, and death.

Edgar Allan Poe's literary piece, //The Sleeper,// effectively displays contrasting periods in literature. Poe is relative to a Dark Romanticism period. With his use of imagery and death in his literary work, readers may retain a better understanding and respect toward the eerie writer. His undeniable contribution to the literary community can be justified by his reputation and prominent work. With significant pieces such as //The Raven// and //The Pit and Pendulum//, Poe successfully established a stance in the overgrowing community. His personal life can be the source to his writing style (Werlock). His addiction to alcohol, drugs, and his marriage to his thirteen year old cousin allowed for much speculation and criticism. Although his personal life seems to be just as infatuating as his writing, Poe is known for his eerie style and effective depiction of Dark Romanticism.

Werlock, Abby H. P., ed. "Poe, Edgar Allan." //The Facts On File Companion to the American Novel//. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. //Bloom's Literary Reference Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CANov0736&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 9, 2010).