Key Concepts

The principle concept governing the development of Poe's work is his theory of beauty, a phenomenon that relies on a combination of the functions of reason, perception, and emotions. When the attributes of perception and reason are in harmony, the result is an emotional "effect" that carries the reader to heightened emotional release. This effect occurs most naturally in poetry and short fiction. Incorporating the attributes of music and meaning through universal symbols, poetry and what Poe called the "ideal short-story"-works that can be read and experienced in a single sitting-best serve the purposes of this aesthetic. Every motif (element) must be selected with the utmost sensitivity to the evolution of the pre-determined effect.

Another concept that Poe introduced in literature is "ratiocination." He invented the word, it means "to resolve through reason." Poe's expressions of "ratiocination" are found in his "Major Dupin" series of short stories, the first detective fiction ever created.