Madness, Mystery, Macabre: Edgar Allan Poe in Literature and Film

A literary icon, a master of the Gothic genre, and, at one point, a Baltimore resident, Edgar Allan Poe is an enigmatic and pivotal author in American literature. This senior elective course will explore the depths of Poe's dark and haunting narratives, his use of the Gothic, the macabre, and the psychological. Through analyzing his short stories, poems, and film adaptations, students will investigate themes of madness, death, the supernatural, and the complexities of human nature. Students will read a selection of Poe's most famous works, such as “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Raven,” and “The Cask of Amontillado,” and film adaptations such as The Pale Blue Eye. Students will analyze Poe's unique style, use of unreliable narrators, and exploration of the human psyche, while also considering the historical and cultural contexts of his writing. In addition to literary analysis, students will engage in creative assignments, discussions, debates, and a field trip to Fells Point. The course will culminate in an independent research project and presentation.