Poe Vs. Hemingway Essay, Research Paper
Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) and Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) were both
controversial and intriguing writers of their times. People in their time were
hesitant about their works. For the most part, their works were considered
out there by the majority. Their non-Christian beliefs were not only
reflected in their lives, but also in their works.
Poe s life could be considered extremely tragic. When he was one
year old, his father left his family. About one year later, his mother died from
tuberculosis. He was then adopted by a wealthy family who lived in
Richmond, Virginia. For a while, his life began to get better; he studied at the
University of Virginia. After only one term there, he was forced to drop out
because of his gambling problem. He joined the army for a short time. In
1835, he married Virginia Clemm, his thirteen-year old cousin.
Hemingway was born and raised in a thriving Chicago suburb. He was
a considered a modern man of his time; he enjoyed fishing, hunting, boxing,
and football. He wanted to join the army, but he was turned down because of
an injury. Still seeking life overseas, he joined the Red Cross in 1918 and left
for Italy. Later he married Hadley Richardson, the first of his four wives.
Poe s and Hemingway s lives were both very much alike. They
became alcoholics and struggled with this problem until the end o
They also both participated in indulgent lifestyles; they lived simply to please
themselves.
Poe wrote Tamerlane and other poems that were not widely
recognized. As time past, his writings eventually did become popular. One
of his most famous poems was The Raven. Hemingway was a reporter for
the Kansas City Star and the Toronto Daily Star. Some of his many works
are: Farewell to Arms, In Our Time, The Sun Also Rises, and The Old Man
and the Sea.
Two years after the death of Poe s wife, he engaged Mrs. Sheldon.
On his way back to Baltimore, he stopped in Richmond. He fell into a coma
and was found lying in a gutter; he died a few days later. Hemingway s
lifestyle also caught up to him, and his last seven years were extremely
difficult. He committed suicide on July 2, 1961.
Poe wrote in the era of transcendental pessimism, but was actually a
weakened version of a transcendental optimist. His effect on American
people was to raise their consciousness of the American public in literature.
His stories were not just intriguing, but also entertaining. Hemingway s
works were controversial. He focused on developing theme. He used short
sentences, which allowed him to have a range in audience.
Poe and Hemingway are great writers in our American history. Their
writings are entertaining, but one must not rely on the beliefs in these works.