Abstract

Edgar Allan Poe, as famous as Mark Twain, is the most controversial figure in American literature. There is no doubt that Poe is a geek because his work is full of sense of magic imagination and Gothic plot, and a little Romanism. This weird writing style comes from his miserable life experience and opens a new perspective for the literary work. Poe's psychological fiction attracts plenty of readers for its remarkable description of characters. The mental dilemmas which are displayed in books still have some useful revelations. The thesis may show the connection between Allen Poe's fictions and modern people's mental dilemmas, then analyze the modern signifiance of Poe's fictions. The following thesis is divided into two parts. The first part is devoted to introducing Allen Poe's psychological fiction from its style, symbol and connection with Poe's lifetime. Then the next part demonstrates the mental dilemmas which are mentioned in his work and try to get the ideas about Poe’s writing motif of mental dilemma: facing fear directly.

Keywords: Allen Poe; Psychological fictions; Mental dilemmas

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1.Introduction1

2.A brief introduction of Allen Poe's psychological fictions2

2.1The style of Allen Poe's psychological fictions2

2.2 The attitude of Allen Poe's psychological fictions.2

2.3 The foreseeability of Allen Poe's psychological fictions.3

2.4 The symbol of Allen Poe's psychological fictions4

3.The connection between Allen Poe's psychological fictions and modern people's mental dilemmas.5

3.1 Social phobia5

3.2 Extreme towards religion8

3.3 The double-dealer.10

3.4.Violent catharsis.12

4.Conclusion14 

References 16