Individual elianax2

I.S.F.D. N°30 Profesorado de Inglés Language & Written Expression IV

Romero Eliana Assignment #4, Draft #2 Prof. Blas Bigatti - 2014

Poe´s distinct writing style: an analysis through young adults’ preferences “I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.”(1)

These words belong to the well- known writer, Edgar Allan Poe, who became an exponent in the nineteenth century. He introduced the Gothic genre in American Literature and that is the reason why his name is commonly associated to horror and mystery. Nowadays, his famous works continue captivating many readers through his particular style of writing and the Gothic fiction illustrated in his tales. This paper will focus on a precise story, The black cat, and the connection that it has to Young Adult Literature. Donelson and Nilsen define YAL as “anything that readers between the approximate ages of twelve and twenty chose to read (as opposed to what they may be coerced to read for class assignments)” (2). Probably, it could be considered that Poe´s fiction is only appropriate for adult readers because of their controversial topics that generally include death, violence, alcoholism, supernatural, love and hate; but it is a wrong perception. Despite not being intended to young adults, The black cat can be appealing for them because of the themes developed throughout the story.

In order to understand Poe´s style, it is important to define Gothic Literature. Poe brought Gothic to America during the Victorian era. This genre explores the dark side of human experience such as alienation, death, nightmares and ghosts (3). Poe combines the unknown with horror and mystery developing a unique style of writing. The unexplained issues generate in young adult readers a sense of curiosity and it motivates them to continue reading.

According to Herz & Gallo (1996), YAL deals with many universal themes such as alienation from one´s society or group, survival or meeting a challenge, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, divorce, family conflicts and dealing with death. These authors affirm “these are issues and topics that all students can benefit from reading and discussing” (4). This is the first coincidence between adolescents’ interests and Gothic literature proposed by Poe. Poe´s fiction deals with the similar topics and issues that are proposed by Herz and Gallo. That is why adolescents might feel engaged when reading The black cat.

In this analysis, The black cat (1843) has been selected to find out the relation between the relevant topics the story presents and young adult preferences. In The black cat, the narrator tells the readers that he and his wife are pet lovers and describes his favourite one as a smart black cat named Pluto. This animal is special for him until he starts drinking alcohol and becomes violent with the cat and his wife. Alcoholism turns his life in an uncontrollable chaos and converts him in a murderer. The protagonist kills his pet hanging the cat from a tree.

Surprisingly, a new cat with similar characteristics appears in the narrator´s life. Finally,

wrapped in insanity the man murders her woman and the cat puts him in evidence. As it is appreciated in The black cat, the major themes Poe deals with are death, alcoholism and violence. These issues are extremely connected to adolescents’ real life. Below, it will be exposed the necessary information to explain the reason these topics might be appealing for teenage readers.

Death is the most captivating theme that Poe portrays in The black cat. For adolescents, death implies thinking about their existence in the world and the meaning of life. They are aware of the fact that death is permanent and their interests are centred on what happens after people die (5). When reading The black cat, young adults feel identified with the suspense the narrator generates describing how he murders his victims and the fact that no one can escape from death. It is observed how all the characters die and the only survivor is the second black cat. Death is inevitable and Poe highlights this issue throughout the story. Adolescents might find in Poe´s story a descriptive sensation of how the main character assassinates others without contemplation.

Alcoholism is reflected by the main character of the story presented in this study. Young adults may consume alcohol to express independence, that is to say, they want to feel like adults, to be socially acceptable, to enhance sexual interactions or just to have fun (6).

Adolescents also need to take risks, to experiment new sensations or simply to feel disconnected from the world. Alcohol functions as an escape from their reality. This thematic is presented in The black cat throughout the story. The main character narrates how alcohol influences on his actions describing his feelings and his deep thoughts. Young adults might perceive through this tale the sensation alcohol produces in the protagonist and it might generate a sense of identification with their real world. Undoubtedly, this narrative represents teenagers’ reality and these are the reasons why they become interested in this type of literature.

Another topic of relevance displayed in The black cat is violence. Poe pictures with macabre details how the protagonist becomes violent by the effects of alcohol. The following extract from the story describes the way in which the narrator cuts the cat´s eye out:

“I took from my waistcoat-pocket a pen-knife, opened it, grasped the poor beast by the throat, and deliberately cut one of its eyes from the socket! I blush, I burn, I shudder, while I pen the damnable atrocity.”

In the cited phrase, it is observed that the narrator attacks his pet in an aggressive and violent way.

Violence in adolescents can be expressed through various behaviours such as physical aggression, fighting, cruelty toward animals, use of weapons, threats or attempts to hurt others and vandalism. Violent behaviour in young adults is generated by certain factors that include:       

Previous aggressive or violent behaviour Being the victim of physical abuse and/or sexual abuse Exposure to violence in the home and/or community Genetic (family heredity) factors Exposure to violence in media (TV, movies, etc.)

Use of drugs and/or alcohol Presence of firearms in home

 

Combination of stressful family socioeconomic factors (poverty, severe deprivation, marital breakup, single parenting, unemployment, loss of support from extended family) Brain damage from head injury (7)

Generally, adolescents are protagonists of violent actions or they simply observe situations in which their peers manifest aggressive conducts. The fact that Poe portrays the issue of violence in The black cat, creates a meaningful connection with teens.

As it was previously exposed, the story analysed in this paper is considered attractive for young adult readers who would feel identified with the topics presented by the author. Death, violence and alcoholism are significant themes at this period of life and also help teens to discuss about them. It is possible to appreciate that many relations have been established between the tale and adolescents’ reality. It is possible to say that Poe´s story proposes a different style which would motivate teens at reading time. That is why The black cat leads teens closer to literature.

REFERENCES 1. Brainyquote: Edgar Allan Poe quotes. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.html#KKg2OmGj4M0bsbbs.99 (Accessed 24/10/2014) 2. Nilsen, Alleen P. and Kenneth L. Donelson (2008) Literature for Today´s Young Adults.

3. Sparknotes: Literature study guides. Poe´s short stories. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/poestories/(Accessed 28/10/2014) 4. Herz, Sarah and Donald Gallo (1996) From Hinton to Hamlet: Building Bridges between Young Adult Literature and Classics. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

5. Healthy Place: America´s mental health channel. Healthy Place staff writer (2009) http://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/psychiatric-disorder-definitions/teen-suicide-whatparents-need-to-know/ (Accessed 25/10/2014) 6. ACOG: The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. http://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/ACOG-Departments/Adolescent-Health-Care/Adolescentsand-Alcohol (Accessed 27/10/2014) 7. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Understanding violent behaviour in children and adolescents (2011) http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pa ges/Understanding_Violent_Behavior_In_Children_and_Adolescents_55.aspx (Accessed 30/10/2014)