In his "The Philosophy of Composition" Poe tells us that he begins writing with "the consideration of an effect" (1598). Almost all of Poe's poetry and fiction give evidence to support Poe's claim that the intended effect, upon the reader, is indeed central to his creative work. This article explores that intended effect and its centrality in Poe's famous short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher".
This article examines the Apology, one of Plato's central dialogues. In it, Socrates is on trial for his life, yet rather than win the trial and defeat his accusers, Socrates takes a curious defense. This article explores Socrates' defense from a philosophical perspective in order to understand what Socrates could have meant by it and why he made it. It includes interesting photos and links to books related to the discussion.