173,317 views
32 votes
32 votes
What is Poe's theory of the "unity of effect," and how does it work in "The Cask of

Amontillado"?

User Skuta
by
2.6k points

1 Answer

19 votes
19 votes

Answer:

Poe's primary concern was “unity of effect,” which means that every element of a story should help create a single emotional impact. The website uses the tale, “The Cask of Amontillado” to illustrate this. The tone, for one, is the same from start to finish.

Step-by-step explanation:

The unity of effect is supposedly a method that he used in his own writing. Put simply, it is determining what effect you would like to have on a reader and carrying that effect through all the elements of your story or poem. The effect on the reader is, essentially, the purpose of your piece.

His influential theory of “unity of effect” states that the author of a short story should construct a tale to fit one overall purpose or effect. Poe believed his role as a critic included exposing poor writing and demanding that American writers meet higher standards.

User Dkoper
by
3.2k points