文档介绍：浅析爱伦坡短篇小说的死亡主题【关键词】爱伦坡;死亡;思想;痛苦 I. Introduction Edgar Allan Poe, the American 19th-century writer of fiction, poet, literary critic, reviewer, journalist, editor and philosopher has exerted a substantial influence on American and world literature. However, Poe is misunderstood by his contemporaries and their followers for quite a long time. Mark Twain declares his prose tobe unreadable. Henry James makes the ruthless statement that “ an enthusiasm for Poe is the mark ofa decidedly primitive state of development. ”1 And Whitman has mixed feelings about him: he does admit Poe ’s genius, but it is“ its narrow range and unhealthy, lurid quality ” that most impresses him. Ironically, it is in Europe that Poe enjoys respect and e. “ Swinburne, Bernard Shaw, . Lawrence and W?H?Aduen all admired and spoke highly of him …‘ Poe was ’, Shaw said on the centenary of his birth, ‘ the greatest journalistic critic of his time ’; his poetry is‘ exquisitely refined ’; and his tales are ‘ complete works of art. ’”2 The research on Edgar Allan Poe at abroad is very popular now. There is renowned academic journal which specializes in studying Poe with the name Poe Studies/Dark Romanticism. It includes essays and notes on every aspect of Poe, the man and the writer: bibliographical studies, source and influence studies, short essays and notes on Poe in the context of international Romanticism et