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Persuasive Essay Final

What am I trying to prove:
Thoreau Vs Poe: Which author is more successful in communicating their message? Which author's
lifestyle more aligned to their ideology?

Introduction
Hook
Successes is not measured in how much youve done. But how well youve execute your
work. Edgar Allan Poe and Henry David Thoreau were both famous authors of the 19th
century, with completely different lifestyles.

Thesis
In Edgar Allan Poes work he effectively and successfully communicated his message in his
writing and lifestyle compared to his opponent Henry David Thoreau.

Evidence
Example 1
I, who cannot stay in my chamber for
a single day without acquiring some
rust, and when sometimes I have stolen
forth for a walk at the eleventh hour, or
four o'clock in the afternoon, too late to
redeem the day, when the shades of
night were already beginning to be
mingled with the daylight, have felt as
if I had committed some sin to be
atoned for(Henry David Thoreau,
Walking paragraph 7).
Analysis 1

Example 2
I went to the woods because I wished
to live deliberately, to front only the
essential facts of life, and see if I could
not learn what it had to teach, and not,
when I came to die, discover that I had
not lived.
Contradicts himself

Henry Thoreau left his town of

Concord and went to live alone in the
woods, on the shores of Walden Pond, a
mile from any neighbour.
Analysis 2

Thoreau completely contradicts his

ideology in a whole
Example 4

Example 3

William Cullen Bryant had accused

Southern Literary Messenger, Poe

Thoreaus writing to be a sickly and

affected imitation of the peculiar
manner of some of the late popular
poets of England,

successfully managed the paper and

increased its circulation from 500 to
3500 copies left because of salary
. His first volume of short stories, "Tales
of the Grotesque and Arabesque" was
published in 1839. Poe received the
copyright and 20 copies of the book, but
no money.didnt make much money
.Graham's Magazine, During the time
Poe was editor, the circulation of the
magazine rose from 5000 to 35,000
copies. Poe left Graham's in 1842
because he wanted to start his own
magazine. Left to make his own
magazine
He tried to start a magazine called The
Stylus and failed. In 1843, he published
some booklets containing a few of his
short stories but they didn't sell well
enough. He won a hundred dollars for
his story, "The Gold Bug" and sold a
few other stories to magazines but he
barely had enough money to support his
family. Often, Mrs. Clemm had to
contribute financially. In 1844, Poe
moved back to New York. Even though
"The Gold Bug" had a circulation of
around 300,000 copies, he could barely
make a living.

Analysis 3

Analysis 4
Poe worked in many different places
bringing his success. Many people took
interest in his writing style. We can see
this by how numbers increased when he
began working with different companies

making their number of copies triple.

Example 5

Example 6

"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no

of his hideous heart!"

Not only did Coleridge exert a general

influence, which Poe shared with every
other man of letters in this country, but
he transmitted a special and unique
influence to him alone.

Analysis 5

Analysis 6

more! I admit the deed! --tear up the

planks! --here, here! --it is the beating

Poe proves his thoughts and his

ideology clearly

Conclusion
Ending Statement

Thesis

Brain Storm:
Poe

Southern Literary Messenger, Poe successfully managed the paper and increased its circulation
from 500 to 3500 copies left because of salary
. His first volume of short stories, "Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque" was published in
1839. Poe received the copyright and 20 copies of the book, but no money.didnt make much
money
.Graham's Magazine, During the time Poe was editor, the circulation of the magazine rose from
5000 to 35,000 copies. Poe left Graham's in 1842 because he wanted to start his own magazine.
Left to make his own magazine
He tried to start a magazine called The Stylus and failed. In 1843, he published some booklets
containing a few of his short stories but they didn't sell well enough. He won a hundred dollars
for his story, "The Gold Bug" and sold a few other stories to magazines but he barely had

enough money to support his family. Often, Mrs. Clemm had to contribute financially. In 1844,
Poe moved back to New York. Even though "The Gold Bug" had a circulation of around
300,000 copies, he could barely make a living.
Henry David Thoreau
But when Henry David Thoreau wrote his
first book, he had to pay for the printing,
and it only sold 220 copies.
By 1845, Thoreau began writing full time. His good friend
Emerson allowed him to build a small log cabin on property
near Walden Pond, - See more at: In 1849, he completed A Week on the Concord and Merrimack
Rivers, a memorial to a trip he took with his brother John. He paid
for the books printing, and when the publishers couldnt sell the
last 700 copies, they dumped them on his doorstep - See more at: Walden, or Life in the Woods,
Thoreaus most famous work, was
completed in 1854 and is a series of 18 essays that describe his
philosophies on simple living, self-sufficiency, and the meaning of
work and leisure. - See more at: Walden before seeking
publication. The book received some publicity and helped establish
Thoreau as a reputable author but didnt provide him with a sufficient living, so he continued to
support himself - See more at: he essay, like most
of Thoreaus work, didnt receive much attention until the 20th
century, - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/profiles-in-greatness-henry-davidthoreau#sthash.sdxsaWRL.dpuf

Work Cited (alphabetical)

Bio of Edgar Allan Poe
http://poestories.com/biography.php
Thoreau http://simplicitycollective.com/thoreau

Nationalism and the Nature of Thoreau's "Walking"

http://www.jstor.org/stable/41714228?seq=1=#page_scan_tab_contents
The Tell-Tale Heart
http://poestories.com/read/telltaleheart

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe

http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/classrev/poe2.htm

Larryn McGee
Mrs. Urciuoli
English 10

03-31-16
Success Does Not Mean You Have Succeeded
Success is not measured by how much youve done, but in how well youve execute your
work. Edgar Allan Poe, and Henry David Thoreau were both famous authors of the 19th century
with completely different lifestyles. Edgar Allan Poe, an Anti-Transcendentalist, believed in God.
Poe had a very dark lifestyle which reflected the beliefs systems of an Anti-Transcendentalist.
Whereas, Henry David Thoreau was a devout Transcendentalist. He believed that one can
only find peace by Nature. Many of Thoreaus writings were based on his opinions, and how one
should live out their life. However, in Edgar Allan Poes work, he effectively and successfully
communicated his message compared to his opponent Henry David Thoreau.
Thoreau came across as a simple guy, only needing so much to live (shelter, food, and water).
Which may be the reason why he could not put pen to paper without contradicting himself. I,
who cannot stay in my chamber for a single day without acquiring some rust, and when
sometimes I have stolen forth for a walk at the eleventh hour, or four o'clock in the afternoon, too
late to redeem the day, when the shades of night were already beginning to be mingled with the
daylight, have felt as if I had committed some sin to be atoned for(Henry David Thoreau,
Walking paragraph 7). Thoreau outright contradicts himself as a being a person who does not
believe in religion, but understands life relationships through nature. If he stayed true to his
ideology he would not of made this mistake. How can one be counted as being successful, if they
cannot even express their own beliefs clearly in a piece they write about themselves? Thoreau
also explains how one should live in nature away from society.I went to the woods because I
wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn
what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived(Thoreau) . Yet,

he himself only moved a mile away from society not truly immersing himself in nature. Henry
Thoreau left his town of Concord and went to live alone in the woods, on the shores of Walden
Pond, a mile from any neighbour(Thoreau, Thoreau, 1). Showing himself to be a complete
hypocrite and not a true believer in what he says. Poe, on the other hand expresses his beliefs
clearly in many of his pieces.
One of Poes most famous pieces, The Tell-Tale Heart, gives a precious meaning to Poes
ideology. In many of his pieces you can see when the characters are calling upon God to help
them or referring to Heavenly aspects.In The Tell-Tale Heart, Poe demonstrates what it looks like
to have a guilty heart; which can only be known through God. Bad people will continuously do
bad because they have nothing to tell them what is wrong. Villains! I shrieked, dissemble no
more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! --here, here! --it is the beating of his hideous
heart!(Edgar Allan Poe, The Tell-Tale Heart, 17). Poe paints a picture of the man crying out.
He cannot keep quiet anymore, his heart is aching with the sorrow and guilt he feels after killing
the man. Proving the Anti-Transcendentalist belief, man was born with original sin and will
choose to do bad. Also the man feels guilty because he knows God would not be happy with his
actions. The men he is talking to really stand for the judgement he feels from God. Judgement
also comes into play when people believe Thoreau is not an original writer.
Many writers of the Thoreaus time did not support his writing and looked at it to be knock offs
of original writers in England. One of Thoreaus critics was William Cullen Bryant, who accused
Thoreaus writing to be a sickly and affected imitation of the peculiar manner of some of the
late popular poets of England,( Andrew Menard, Nationalism and the Nature of Thoreau's
Walking). Thoreau is unable to explain what he talks about and most of his critics believe he

cannot achieve reaching new idea without stealing someone elses ideas. Compared to Thoreau,
Poe was very successful wherever he went.
Poe worked in many different places bringing his success with him. Many people took interest
in his writing style. Through his journey, he worked at different places bringing the businesses
great success. Southern Literary Messenger, Poe successfully managed the paper and increased
its circulation from 500 to 3500 copies...Graham's Magazine, During the time Poe was editor,
the circulation of the magazine rose from 5000 to 35,000 copies(Biography of Edgar Allan
Poe). We can see how the numbers increased when he began working with different companies,
causing the amount of copies sold to be tripled . Poe influenced many because he was relatable
and made things more apparent. He went for the jagaded approach compared to the soft and
fluffy side. Other people who have analyzed Poes writing have a great appreciation to him.
People looked at Poe to be a very successful and influential writer. Most of his stories are dark
yet, I believe that is what makes him relatable. Life is not always rainbows and butterflies; Poe
knew that first hand. Not only did Coleridge exert a general influence, which Poe shared with
every other man of letters in this country, but he transmitted a special and unique influence to
him alone(The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, 8). He was the type of person who could relate with
others in his writing. He made the bad times real, it wasnt as if people had to act as if life was
perfect.
Poe, hands down is the more successful writer when comparing him to Thoreau. Poe directly
relates to his ideology, being precious and accurate. I rather read from a writer who can be real
with his readers instead adding in fluff. Success is never easy to achieve, but with hard work and
dedication one can achieve this. In Edgar Allan Poes work he effectively and successfully

communicated his message in his writing and lifestyle compared to his opponent Henry David
Thoreau.

Work Cited
Bio of Edgar Allan Poe http://poestories.com/biography.php
Nationalism and the Nature of Thoreau's "Walking" http://www.jstor.org/stable/41714228?
seq=1=#page_scan_tab_contents
Thoreau http://simplicitycollective.com/thoreau
The Tell-Tale Heart http://poestories.com/read/telltaleheart
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe
http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/classrev/poe2.htm