Setting the Mood with Edgar Allan Poe

What draws you into a story? 

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So who is the Lady Ligeia? If she is important enough to write about, why can't our author remember more about their history together?

One of the things that often draws a reader into a story, poem, or novel is the opening paragraph. Many individuals might read the first few sentences or paragraphs of a written work and decide it is or is not right for them. Well, what if we all had the same way with words that Edgar Allan Poe had in writing? For me, reading the first few lines of a Poe story or poem invokes wonderful imagery, people, places, and events that invite me to learn more.

In this post, I will share a few of my favorite opening sentences from Poe that set the mood for a thrilling Halloween season.

What did the author ponder about? Why was he up so late when he was already tired? And who taught the raven to speak in the first place? 

One of my favorite stories is that of The Tell-Tale Heart...perhaps it is because of a fantastic Park Ranger who brought the story to life while on a tour of the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia. I remember reading it for the first time with a dictionary at hand as I was in elementary school and so many of the words Poe used seemed so difficult but so important to learn. Have you heard the tale of this madman? 

I love the way The Fall of the House of Usher begins. I feel like I am riding a horse alongside the narrator. Even if it is a bright sunny day, I can sense the darkness and coolness of a fall day when I read this story. 

Do you have a favorite author who intrigues you from the very first page of their work?

Resources 

Image of Pallas-Athene
Image of House