10 Classic Pieces Of Literature Perfect For Halloween
8. The Complete Works Of Edgar Allan Poe
When you think of the scariest tales ever told one man comes to mind - Edgar Allan Poe. Born January 19, 1809 Poe would go on to become of the most renowned authors of all time. With a vast amount of horror stories and Gothic poetry it's far too difficult to suggest just one or two of Poe's works. Fortunately for you every known masterpiece has been collected in one spooky edition.
Among Poe's most memorable works are The Raven, The Black Cat, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Cask of Amontillado. The Raven is a poem avast with eerie imagery and mood as a man is visited by an ominous raven on a dreary, December night. The raven is akin to a devil reminding the narrator of his past woes and informing him that he shall never escape their torment. The most unique adaptation of the poem was as a segment on the Simpson's first Halloween special with Homer as the narrator and Bart as the raven. The Black Cat not only features one of the greatest symbols in Halloween folklore but is among the most terrifying of Poe's tales. It follows a man driven mad by his alcoholism who kills his beloved pet in a fit of rage and is haunted by another, similar cat after the murder.
The Black Cat has many similarities to the Tell-Tale Heart in which a narrator with questionable sanity commits a murder. The Tell-Tale Heart sees a man murder and dismember an innocent man for no apparent reason. He believes he has gotten away with it until he is driven into deeper madness by what he believes to be the sound of the dead man's heart beating from beneath the floorboards. The Tell-Tale Heart has been adapted in various forms including a large amount of Halloween specials. Finally, in the Cask of Amontillado a man seeks revenge on a former friend by getting him drunk and burying him in the catacombs behind a brick wall. Edgar Allan Poe is the master of terror and will forever be a legend of Halloween. There's really no better way to spend the spookiest night of the year than getting caught up in the mind of the macabre.