1.

"The Raven":
• Psychoanalytic Criticism: This theory, pioneered by Sigmund Freud,
explores the unconscious desires, fears, and conflicts of the characters
and author. In "The Raven," the protagonist's descent into madness after
the death of his lover Lenore can be seen as a manifestation of repressed
emotions and unresolved grief.
• Structuralist Criticism: This approach focuses on the underlying
structures and patterns within the text. In "The Raven," the repetitive
refrain of "Nevermore" creates a sense of inevitability and highlights the
protagonist's inability to escape his grief, echoing the cyclical nature of
mourning.
2. "The Tell-Tale Heart":
• Reader-Response Criticism: This theory emphasizes the role of the
reader in interpreting the text and constructing meaning. In "The Tell-Tale
Heart," readers may sympathize with or condemn the unreliable narrator,
leading to different interpretations of the story's moral implications.
• Feminist Criticism: This lens examines the portrayal of gender roles and
power dynamics within the text. In "The Tell-Tale Heart," the absence of
female characters and the narrator's obsession with asserting dominance
over the old man may reflect patriarchal anxieties about masculinity and
control.
3. "The Fall of the House of Usher":
• Gothic Criticism: This approach focuses on elements of horror,
suspense, and the macabre in literature. "The Fall of the House of Usher"
exemplifies Gothic themes through its eerie setting, crumbling mansion,
and themes of decay and madness.
• Postcolonial Criticism: This lens explores representations of colonialism,
power, and identity within the text. While not explicitly about colonialism,
"The Fall of the House of Usher" can be analyzed through a postcolonial
framework to examine themes of isolation, alienation, and the
disintegration of cultural and familial ties.
4. "The Masque of the Red Death":
• Marxist Criticism: This theory examines literature through the lens of
social class, power dynamics, and economic structures. In "The Masque
of the Red Death," the wealthy Prince Prospero's attempt to isolate
himself from the horrors of the plague can be interpreted as a critique of
bourgeois indifference to the suffering of the lower classes.
• Historical Criticism: This approach considers the historical context in
which a work was written and how it reflects the concerns and anxieties of
its time. "The Masque of the Red Death" can be analyzed in the context of
19th-century fears of disease outbreaks and mortality, as well as broader
themes of mortality and the inevitability of death.
5. "The Pit and the Pendulum":
• Existentialist Criticism: This theory focuses on themes of existence,
freedom, and individuality. In "The Pit and the Pendulum," the
protagonist's struggle for survival in the face of impending death can be
 seen as an existential journey, exploring themes of human resilience and
the search for meaning in a hostile universe.
• Postmodern Criticism: This lens examines how texts challenge
traditional narratives and question the nature of reality. "The Pit and the
Pendulum" can be analyzed as a metafictional work that blurs the
boundaries between reality and illusion, inviting readers to question the
reliability of the narrator's perceptions and the nature of truth.
6. "The Cask of Amontillado":
• Deconstructionist Criticism: This theory seeks to uncover the hidden
contradictions and ambiguities within a text. In "The Cask of Amontillado,"
the unreliable narrator's motives for seeking revenge against Fortunato
can be deconstructed to reveal complex layers of jealousy, pride, and
insecurity.
• Queer Theory: This lens examines representations of gender and
sexuality within the text. While not explicitly about LGBTQ+ themes, "The
Cask of Amontillado" can be analyzed through a queer theoretical
framework to explore issues of power, dominance, and the subversion of
traditional gender roles.
7. "The Fall of the House of Usher":
• Psychoanalytic Criticism: This theory, pioneered by Sigmund Freud,
explores the unconscious motivations and desires of characters. In "The
Fall of the House of Usher," the deteriorating mansion and its inhabitants
can be interpreted as manifestations of the protagonist's subconscious
fears and anxieties.
• Ecocriticism: This lens examines the representation of nature and the
environment in literature. In Poe's tale, the decaying landscape
surrounding the Usher mansion reflects themes of environmental
degradation and decay, suggesting a connection between the state of the
natural world and the characters' psychological states.
8. "The Tell-Tale Heart":
• Formalist Criticism: This approach focuses on the formal elements of the
text, such as structure, style, and language. In "The Tell-Tale Heart," the
use of first-person narration and the repetition of phrases like "True! -
nervous - very, very dreadfully nervous" contribute to the building tension
and the portrayal of the narrator's unraveling sanity.
• Cultural Criticism: This lens considers the cultural and historical context
of a work, including its reception and interpretation over time. "The Tell-
Tale Heart" has been analyzed within the context of 19th-century attitudes
toward mental illness and the treatment of the insane, shedding light on
broader societal attitudes toward mental health.
9. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue":
• Structuralist Criticism: This theory focuses on the underlying structures
and patterns within a text. In "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," the
detective story genre is deconstructed and reimagined through the
character of C. Auguste Dupin, whose deductive reasoning and analytical
prowess challenge conventional notions of crime-solving.
 • Feminist Criticism: This lens examines representations of gender and
power dynamics within the text. While early detective fiction often sidelines
female characters, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" features an
intelligent and independent female character, Madame L'Espanaye,
whose murder serves as the central mystery of the story.
10. "The Black Cat":
• Narrative Theory: This approach analyzes the structure and function of
narrative elements within a text. In "The Black Cat," the unreliable
narrator's confession unfolds in a nonlinear fashion, blending past and
present events to create a sense of suspense and uncertainty.
• Postcolonial Criticism: While not immediately apparent, "The Black Cat"
can be examined through a postcolonial lens to explore themes of guilt,
oppression, and the consequences of colonial violence, particularly in its
portrayal of the narrator's abuse of his pets as a metaphor for hierarchical
power dynamics.
"The Raven":
• Psychoanalytic Criticism: Examines the protagonist's descent into
madness and obsession with the raven as manifestations of
repressed emotions and unresolved grief.
• Gothic Criticism: Focuses on the poem's dark and eerie
atmosphere, exploring themes of death, loss, and the supernatural.
"Annabel Lee":
• Biographical Criticism: Considers the poem's themes of love and
loss in light of Poe's personal experiences, particularly his feelings
of grief and longing following the death of his wife.
• Romantic Criticism: Analyzes the poem's idealized depiction of
love and the Romantic emphasis on individual emotion and
imagination.
"The Bells":
• Structuralist Criticism: Focuses on the repetitive structure of the
poem and the shifting tones of the bells, suggesting deeper
symbolic meanings associated with the passage of time and the
stages of life.
• Formalist Criticism: Examines the poem's use of sound devices and
rhythm to create auditory effects, highlighting Poe's skillful
manipulation of language and musicality.
"The Conqueror Worm":
• Existentialist Criticism: Interprets the poem as a meditation on the
human condition, with the "conqueror worm" representing death
and the inevitability of mortality.
 • Allegorical Criticism: Views the poem as an allegory for the futility
of human endeavors and the triumph of death over life.
"To Helen":
• Biographical Criticism: Considers the poem's portrayal of Helen of
Troy as symbolic of Poe's own idealized and unattainable romantic
ideals.
• Classical Criticism: Explores Poe's use of classical mythology and
literature, particularly the figure of Helen of Troy, to evoke themes
of beauty, longing, and nostalgia.
"The Tell-Tale Heart":
• Psychoanalytic Criticism: Explores the narrator's psyche and
motivations, particularly his guilt and obsession with the old man's
"vulture eye."
• Narrative Theory: Analyzes the unreliable narrator's storytelling
techniques and the tension between truth and distortion in the
narrative.
"The Fall of the House of Usher":
• Gothic Criticism: Focuses on the story's eerie atmosphere,
crumbling mansion, and themes of decay and madness.
• Freudian Criticism: Considers the psychological dynamics between
the narrator and Roderick Usher, exploring themes of repression,
family trauma, and the uncanny.
"The Masque of the Red Death":
• Allegorical Criticism: Interprets the story as an allegory for the
inevitability of death and the folly of attempting to escape
mortality.
• Historical Criticism: Analyzes the story in the context of the time
period, exploring themes of disease, mortality, and social inequality.
"The Pit and the Pendulum":
• Existentialist Criticism: Views the story as an existential journey,
with the protagonist confronting the absurdity of existence and the
terror of impending death.
• Structuralist Criticism: Examines the story's narrative structure and
use of symbolism, particularly the pit and the pendulum as symbols
of the protagonist's psychological and physical trials.
"The Murders in the Rue Morgue":
• Detective Fiction Criticism: Analyzes the story as an early example
of detective fiction, focusing on the deductive reasoning of C.
Auguste Dupin and the conventions of the genre.
 • Colonial Criticism: Considers the story's portrayal of cultural and
racial stereotypes, particularly in its depiction of the orangutan and
its implications for colonial attitudes.
"The Cask of Amontillado":
• Freudian Criticism: Explores the themes of revenge, power, and
repressed desires, particularly in the relationship between the
narrator and Fortunato.
• Irony Criticism: Analyzes the story's use of irony and dramatic
irony, particularly in the narrator's manipulation of Fortunato and
the revelation of his true intentions.
"The Black Cat":
• Animal Studies: Considers the role of animals in the story and their
symbolic significance, particularly the black cat and its connection
to the narrator's descent into madness.
• Feminist Criticism: Explores the portrayal of gender dynamics and
violence against women in the story, particularly in the narrator's
treatment of his wife and pets.