Poe's Menagerie of Macabre: 8 Creepy Crawlies in His Work

May 9th , 2024 CHIRANJIT MITRA CHIRANJIT MITRA

[{"selector":"#anim-01f64bdd-2a8c-43ef-b844-899bd8c416c7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dee6a786-5639-4d09-8bb6-7682fb00dafa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e11f0069-7914-4efa-87ac-d1ff088f5576","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Edgar Allan Poe, master of the macabre, used more than ravens to create atmosphere. Explore 8 creepy creatures lurking in his tales and poems.

1: The Raven "The Raven"

[{"selector":"#anim-1fe90702-fb55-4795-b001-3fc7bf4e5bfa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6c046db-7980-4031-a7d6-39fcda2cd383","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-081cb453-da13-4736-a0e8-7bba206ba74c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d7d63f6-8eef-4338-881a-953894bea4d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fefeee0-08ee-42ca-a6ed-c936baf251b3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Not just a bird but a symbol of grief and lost love, the raven's ominous presence haunts the iconic poem.

2: Beetle "The Gold Bug"

[{"selector":"#anim-4eea3157-a9cf-417b-a869-73188b492961 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.219298034926716%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b5df7be-8442-4b2c-8f89-33114edecda3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b1a6498-06e1-46a2-966b-53f85ec53b97","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cc6008e-1bcd-4e78-bbb3-6e640143e29b","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa8bb73b-a114-4995-8155-093bde76cb16","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] More than an insect, this beetle holds the key to buried treasure, and its scarab-like shape adds intrigue.

3: Black Cat "The Black Cat"

[{"selector":"#anim-2d131cb5-2e42-4e68-aac3-0aa7eec85cc3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0e7317b-dfe8-488e-97fa-ea0cd1ea61a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33a9dce9-917f-4818-b1f1-7cd4f84421c8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-171686f6-a49f-4583-9400-6c854a7c55a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d403b33-01da-4bd6-b5c3-3ba807962810","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Symbol of guilt and madness, this feline's eerie stare and hidden fate drive the chilling story.

4: Rats "The Pit and the Pendulum"

[{"selector":"#anim-66571a94-cc13-4e34-b141-c0cf18d3a580 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f83f044-03dd-4b24-a554-d04212088448","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de22b2b4-66c1-44e3-981f-0288094fc663","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00a879dd-b66f-468c-81d0-051475a734cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3c92ea5-1cdc-4158-9179-0bfce8a282e3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] In this tortured tale, rats become the harbingers of doom, their scurrying adding to the horror.

5: Worms "The Conqueror Worm"

[{"selector":"#anim-bbdf8fe2-9b2d-4d8d-955d-92739be46298","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7c64a22-a961-4cf4-b798-27972c1d2c8e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7236cd7a-a75d-44ea-b811-05010a8a8b5c","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffd154d0-39fa-429e-bac8-41753f0700dc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c7e339c-db2c-4735-8136-08f9d16b9b9b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-4.4438841333418155%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] An allegorical poem in which worms represent death, consuming humanity in a grotesque yet powerful image.

6: Apes "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"

[{"selector":"#anim-5004cc5c-d6d2-443a-a665-008efb026b97 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c22f77c-c22a-475e-8174-7d01a4a7ab9e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d26fecdb-e767-4a6a-ac7c-16528d5ab59a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a637504-4ce6-4d84-80a2-1b7d2e21e3ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b98c4d0f-30a8-468d-b9e1-6ee2338e4049","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] An orangutan becomes the unlikely killer, its strength and savagery contrasting with human intellect.

7: Scorpion "The Cask of Amontillado"

[{"selector":"#anim-3a936e41-8d4b-4adf-8bb1-4a6660a9097b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-5.468749744007888%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d972cf8-02a4-440c-b11b-7049883bd72d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22782523-ec69-4e49-a406-3f6695c1625e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d449301-81f5-4251-8b38-7b7131e58965","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2dd2c017-1a66-4e25-bd9b-35fd1f0a8142","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Fortunato's family crest features a scorpion crushing a serpent, foreshadowing his vengeful fate within the story.

8: Vultures "The Fall of the House of Usher"

[{"selector":"#anim-4de7a4ce-c172-4ebf-ab6b-ced959aa5c26 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-9.855156083177143%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7151550b-9bc7-4699-bac1-23ab5ce247f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef8a236a-775c-4858-b7c2-cf7a0510c68c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-809609a6-4509-4c72-bdd6-a36e190bf03a","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a0e8d9b-1b99-4693-8fe5-1844aacda1d2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Circling the decaying mansion, vultures embody the inevitable doom that descends upon those within.