Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Edgar Allan Poe-1

1.2 Features of Poe’s Detective Fiction-1

1.3 Literature Review-2

1.4 Thesis Structure-3

Chapter Two “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”-4

2.1 Content-4

2.2 Detective Elements-4

2.3 Its Influence on Subsequent Detective Works-5

Chapter Three Writing Techniques in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”-7

3.1 Characterization-7

3.1.1 The First Detective—Dupin-7

3.1.2 The First Person Assistant—“I”-8

3.1.3 Police-8

3.1.4 Criminal Orangutan-8

3.2 Structure-9

3.2.1 The Opening-9

3.2.2 The Ending-9

3.3 Perspective Transformation-10

3.4 Foil Techniques-10

Chapter Four Conclusion-12

References-13

Abstract

Edgar Allan Poe is an outstanding poet, novelist and literary critic in 19th century American romantic period. Known as father of mystery novels, Poe used to arrange some unique writing strategies and writing styles in his masterpiece, which is called “Allan Poe model”, including amateur detective, analysis on spot, scene description, etc. These elements of detective fiction created by Poe are of far influence on following works. His first detective story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” describes an amateur detective who solved a silly case that an orangutan unintentionally killed two people. He not only successfully created the detective Dupin, but also set an example for classical detective novel. Moreover, because of its epoch-making value, it becomes an interesting topic to scholars. At present, the study mainly concentrates on psychoanalysis, personality mold, the application of suspense and strange conception, etc. However, few scholars take comprehensive research on its writing techniques. 

On the basis of the previous studies, the article will focus on the writing strategy of this novel, and compare it with the contemporary and descendant detective stories. The first chapter will briefly introduce the author, features of Poe’s detective fiction, and the current research status of Poe’s works. The second chapter will analyze its plot, detective elements and effects to the later detective novels. The third part is the core of the paper, which will conduct a comprehensive analysis on the writing techniques of the story by analyzing its characterization, writing structure, perspective transformation and foil techniques. The fourth part is the conclusion.

Keywords: Edgar Allan Poe  “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”  writing techniques