The philosophy of composition
The philosophy of composition ( The Philosophy of Composition ) is an essay by Edgar Allan Poe , in which he is a aesthetic developed theory about the objective and the method of literature. The essay first appeared in Graham's Magazine in 1846 . He influenced modern poetry , especially French symbolism .
Poe already expressed similar literary theoretical considerations in his review of the Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne . This also appeared in Graham's Magazine in April and May 1842 . In addition, some central ideas of the Philosophy of Composition were taken up again in Poe's equally influential essay The Poetic Principle (published in 1850, The Poetic Principle ).
content
Poe uses his poem Der Rabe to illustrate that the "unity of effect", the length and the logical structure of a literary work are of particular importance for its aesthetic value.
length
Poe believed that all literary works should be short. If a work cannot be read without interruption, the distractions of everyday life cannot create a “unity of effect”. He specifically deals with his (own) poetry. However, he also mentions that the short story is superior to the novel for this reason. Very long poems, as exemplified by Milton's Paradise Lost , he does not deny any quality with his assertion: It is only a series of short poems, which enables a “unity of effect” despite the length.
method
Poe believes that the process of good writing is methodical, analytical, and precise, not spontaneous or intuitive. He compares the creation of his poem The Raven with solving a mathematical problem. Other authors would seldom admit this, however, since the process of creating a work is rather inglorious.
Unity of effect
The emotional effect that the literary work is supposed to have on the reader is of central importance to Poe. The author should always be clear about the effect he is striving for in the reader, and he should pursue this goal at all levels of the work (including the plot , characters and motifs). For Poe, the death of a beautiful woman is the most poetically effective motif.
German translations (selection)
- 1901: Hedda Moeller and Hedwig Lachmann : Philosophy of Composition. JCC Bruns, Minden.
- 1920: Theodor Etzel : The Philosophy of Composition. Propylaen Verlag, Munich.
- 1922: B. Bessmertny : The Philosophy of Composition. Rösl & Cie., Munich.
- 1966: Ursula Wernicke : The method of composition. Walter Verlag, Freiburg i. Br.
- 1989: Ruprecht Willnow : The Philosophy of Composition. Insel, Leipzig, ISBN 3735101151 .
Web links
- Edgar Allan Poe: " The Philosophy of Composition " , Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXVIII, No. April 4, 1846, 28: 163-167