The Philosophy of Composition Kindle Edition

The essay "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe presents a philosophy on effective writing. Poe uses it to show his theory about how he came up with his poem "The Raven," which initially published in the April 1846 issue of Graham's Magazine. His compositional style is based on three primary principles: length, logic, and "unity of effect." Poe said that a work of fiction should only be created when the author has decided on the ending and the desired emotional response or effect. Poe also felt that literary works should be brief and that writing is deliberate, not spontaneous. The author should move on to other components like the characters, plot, setting, topic, and tone once this effect has been established. Read more