Musical Elements in Edgar Allan Poe's the Raven

GHENT UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ARTS AND PHILOSOPHY

Master‘s Dissertation:
Musical Elements in Edgar Allan Poe‘s ―The Raven‖: A Literary Study

EVIE HEMERIJCKX
MASTER OF COMPARATIVE MODERN LITERATURE

PROMOTOR: PROF. DR. Vander Motten
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LITERATURE

ACADEMIC YEAR 2008 - 2009

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ....................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4
1.1. Research Questions .................................................................................................... 6
1.2. Research Method ........................................................................................................ 7
2. General Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe: Biography, Popularity and Music .......... 9
2.1. Biography of Edgar Allan Poe ................................................................................... 9
2.2. Edgar Allan Poe and ―The Raven‖ in Popular Culture ............................................ 11
2.2.1.
Edgar Allan Poe‘s Popularity ........................................................................... 11
2.2.2.
Modern Popularity of Edgar Allan Poe ............................................................ 12
2.3. Edgar Allan Poe and Music ...................................................................................... 17
2.3.1.
Poe‘s Fascination for Music ............................................................................. 17
2.3.2.
Poe as an Inspiration for Musicians ................................................................. 20
2.4. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 25
3. The Literary Composition of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” ................................. 26

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