Question
Before there were horror movies, there was the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe’s horror and mystery tales are unrivaled in American fiction. Born in 1809, Poe lived a life that was as odd and as difficult as his writing. It was not until 1845 that he really drew attention with his fiction. This was when Poe published his poem “The Raven,” which was about loss and death. To this day, the poem is considered his greatest literary work. Still, the poem’s success only earned the writer $9. It failed to open other opportunities for him.
Edgar Allan Poe was mostly unsuccessful as a writer during his lifetime. However, his writing is widely known, published, and read today. He is seen as one of the major forces in American Gothic literature. He is also credited with creating the literary form detective fiction. His detective short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” was the first of its kind. Today, millions of high school and college students read and study Poe’s poetry and short stories. They never cease to shock and surprise readers.
Questions
What can be inferred about Edgar Allan Poe from the passage?
Which example from the text does not support the inference that Poe’s stories are scary?
“Poe’s horror and mystery tales are unrivaled in American fiction.”
“Edgar Allan Poe was mostly unsuccessful as a writer during his lifetime.”
“Before there were horror movies, there was the writing of Edgar Allan Poe.”
“They never cease to shock and surprise readers.”
Answers
GPT-4o mini
From the passage, it can be inferred that Edgar Allan Poe was a talented but underappreciated writer during his lifetime, who is now recognized as a significant figure in American literature, particularly in the genres of horror and mystery. His work has had a lasting impact, influencing many writers and captivating readers.
The example from the text that does not support the inference that Poe’s stories are scary is:
“Edgar Allan Poe was mostly unsuccessful as a writer during his lifetime.”
This statement focuses on his lack of success rather than the frightening or shocking nature of his stories. The other options discuss aspects of horror, mystery, and the impact of his writing, which align with the inference about the scariness of his stories.
The example from the text that does not support the inference that Poe’s stories are scary is:
“Edgar Allan Poe was mostly unsuccessful as a writer during his lifetime.”
This statement focuses on his lack of success rather than the frightening or shocking nature of his stories. The other options discuss aspects of horror, mystery, and the impact of his writing, which align with the inference about the scariness of his stories.