Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Edgar Allen Poe on the Tale

Edgar Allen Poe on the tale:

In the whole composition there should be no word written, of which the tendency, direct or indirect, is not to the one preestablished design. And by such means, with such care and skill, a picture is at length painted which leaves in the mind of him who contemplates it with a kindred art, a sense of the fullest satisfaction.

From Edgar Allen Poe, "Review of Twice-Told Tales" (1842); Reprinted in Charles E. May, ed., Short Story Theories (1976).

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