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Thesis statement for my research paper on the life of Edgar Allan Poe?
I'm just writing about his life and is works. I'm not trying to prove that his writing was based on his life experiences, or anything like that. I thought this paper would be super easy since I found Poe extremely interesting, however, I'm starting to think I've bitten off more than I can chew. Someone please help me to come up with a thesis statement. I guess I just want the thesis to state something about how life wasn't easy for him and he struggled nearly his whole life and it wasn't until after his death, when he actually became famous and well known. I also want to acknowledge his darker side in the thesis. His alcohol issues and such. And I also want the fact that he has been referred to as the best American literary critic in the 19th Century to be in there, too.
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First, make a list of all the negatives in Poe's life.
- orphaned young -- mother died shortly after his father abandoned the family - was taken in by John and Frances Allan, of Richmond, Virginia, but they never formally adopted him - attended the University of Virginia for one semester but left due to lack of money etc. He also is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre. |
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Okay.
(All of yours plus) -Finds childhood sweetheart engaged to another man when he returned to Richmond -So poor at the end of the first term in college, he had to burn furniture to keep warm -Picked up on gambling and drinking (gambling to repay debts acquired from college) -Foster mother dies -John Allan remarries without telling Poe -Joined Westpoint, got himself expelled because John Allan refused to give him financial support -Dismissed from Westpoint (that's what he wanted though) -Foster father dies, leaves Poe from will -Attempts two times at establishing his own magazine, both attempts fail -Registers to study law-doesn't get accepted -Wife (Virginia) dies -Engages to Sarah Whitman-pledges to abstain from drinking- fails top meet condition, engagement called off by her mother -Rekindles old flame with childhood sweetheart Elmira Royster -Traveling to Baltimore to get Mrs. Clemm (Virginia's mother) encounters what we do not know for sure and is found sick, injured, and dirty and taken to hopital -Died four days later -Literary nemesis Rufus Griswold writes slanderous obituary about Poe, aiming to make the public hate him, however, creating the opposite effect |
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Now, let's look at his writings. Which ones are concerned with blood/tuberculosis (disease that killed his wife, his mother, and his step mother)? Which ones tell of madness (reflecting his own struggles in real life)? Which ones speak of death (reflecting his own experience seeing loved ones die)?
Poe's works are not only well written and creative, but are also replications of what was in his heart and his life. |
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That would be a great thesis b ut I'm not trying to prove that his works reflect his life and feelings. I didn't take notes for that or I would do that. I have well over 100 notecards all about his life and when he was editor of this and that and when which poems and short stories were published and what recognition he got for them but I have no idea what to actually write about. That's where I'm stumped. :/
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Originally Posted by Amber_91
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Okay that's what I did. I'm sorry I'm asking so many question, but you're very helpful. I have one last question. When I'm doing the parenthetical citation and there is no author, I know I'm supposed to just put whatever comes first on the bibliography card, but if it's a title and I'm shortening it, do I put the three dots or not? Here's an example: Bibliography card says: "Chronology of the Life of Edgar Allan Poe" When I do the parenthetical citation, do I do it like- Whatever I'm saying in the sentence ("chronology"). Or ("Chronology..."). And okay I guess I'll just post what I have on here.
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So far, so good (except for two "bought"s in the first sentence). How long does it have to be and where will you go with it? What ARE you trying to prove or emphasize?
I have an idea. Write about this (lots of Internet info about it); he wrote "Anabelle Lee" there (in memory of Virginia who died there). It's an interesting house with low ceilings and a dark story around it -- Poe Cottage I have a friend who went to high school nearby and could give you inside information about it. |
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Oh thank you for pointing that out! I fixed it. And that's what the problem is... I have no idea what exactly I'm trying to prove or emphasize. I may look into that. The rough draft is due tomorrow, though, and I just started the typing part today and with all the source cards I have to transfer to my paper, I'm not sure if I'll have enough time (or energy lol) to do more source cards on that
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