2.3 The linguistic description of the leading characters 10

Chapter Three  Analysis of the Writing Techniques 13

3.1 Symbol 13

3.2 Contrast 14

Conclusion 17

Works Cited 18

An Analysis on the Theme of the Cask of Amontillado

Introduction Edgar Allan Poe, a famous novelist, poet and critic in the 19th century, is treated as an important member during the romantic period in the literature history of America. He was especially good at writing detective stories and gothic novels. He made himself a huge success in the American literature field, and some of his novels have enjoyed high reputation and comment all over the world. Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque(1840)and Tales(1845) include his main short stories, for example, “MS. Found in a Bottle”, “The Assignation”, “Four Beasts in One”, “A Predicament”, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and so on. He also had several collections of poems, such as Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827), Al Araaf (1829) and The Raven and Other Poems (1845). He also had some achievements in literary theory, including works like The Philosophy of Composition (1846) and The Poetic Principle (1850).But his greatest achievement is the short story. Later generations always see his work as masterpiece with beautiful language and substantial content, and "unique" writing style. 

Allan Poe’s horror fiction has the characteristics of romanticism, and the theme of the story mostly reveals the human consciousness and subconscious. He used strange images and eerie stories, exaggeration, metaphor and symbolism to show human nature crisis. He expressed his understanding of the world and human nature by showing death and ugliness of his own unique romantic inspiration. 

    Poe was born in a family with abundant resource of drama. His father David and his mother, Elizabeth Arnold worked as actor and actress in the same troupe. Unfortunately, his mother died at a young age, leaving the poor young Edgar Allan Poe to a foster family, where he spent his childhood. The special atmosphere of his family may be a root of Edgar Allan Poe’s unique worldview and values (Gina 55). During his life, Edgar Allan Poe spent most of his time being a newspaper editor, which is his career for making a living. Although he did have the talent on writing novels, he had not received due respects before his death. He lived a poor life, especially in his old age. Finally, he died at a polling station in Baltimore in 1849.He experienced great ups and downs during his lifetime. But he did leave us a great number of precious literal heritages in poems, short stories and literature reviews