Edgar Allen Poe: Single Effect of Horror

Creating the “Single Effect” of Horror “...in the whole composition there should be no word written, of which the tendency, direct or indirect, is not to the one preestablished design.” Edgar Allan Poe said this statement when explaining the meaning of the single effect of horror. The short story entitled, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” reflects Poe’s ideas on how to accomplish this. He revels his tremendous effort to do this by …

…created this “single effect” of horror. Working together by incorporating the literary terms, he accomplished that goal. Poe has also examined people’s fears and weaknesses to choose each word. He wants to effect the reader in every way possible. By consistently following his chosen dreary mood and setting, he has been successful. Although, if one of these key literary elements was missing the short story would have been much less effective on the reader.