Dorian Gray to Poe
OSCAR WILDE’S GOTHIC: THE PRESENCE OF EDGAR ALLAN POE IN THE PICTURE
OF DORIAN GRAY
A Thesis
Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Degree of Master of Arts with a
Major in English in the
College of Graduate Studies
University of Idaho
by
Peter Stegner
August 2007
Major Professor: Gary Williams, Ph.D.
ii
AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT THESIS
This thesis of Peter Stegner, submitted for the degree of Master of Arts with a major in English and titled “Oscar Wilde’s Gothic: The Presence of Edgar Allan Poe in The Picture of Dorian
Gray,” has been reviewed in final form. Permission, as indicated by the signatures and dates given below, is now granted to submit final copies to the College of Graduate Studies for approval. Major Professor
Committee
Members
_____________________________________Date______________
Gary Williams
_____________________________________Date______________
Walter Hesford
_____________________________________Date_______________
Alexander Hammond
Department
Administrator
Discipline 's
College Dean
____________________________________Date______________
Kurt Olsson
_____________________________________Date_______________
Katherine Aiken
Final Approval and Acceptance by the College of Graduate Studies
_____________________________________Date_______________
Margrit von Braun
iii
Abstract
This thesis examines the influence of Edgar Allan Poe on Oscar Wilde and argues that Wilde used several Gothic motifs and themes in the fashion of Poe in his production of The Picture of
Dorian Gray. While many scholars note the significance of Poe in Wilde’s works, there is currently no substantial assessment of Wilde using Poe in his own writings. This study aims to alleviate this gap in scholarship by closely examining the Poe stories that are reflected in The
Picture of Dorian Gray, including Poe’s “Metzengerstein,” “The Assignation,” “The Oval
Portrait,” “The Imp of the
OF DORIAN GRAY
A Thesis
Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Degree of Master of Arts with a
Major in English in the
College of Graduate Studies
University of Idaho
by
Peter Stegner
August 2007
Major Professor: Gary Williams, Ph.D.
ii
AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT THESIS
This thesis of Peter Stegner, submitted for the degree of Master of Arts with a major in English and titled “Oscar Wilde’s Gothic: The Presence of Edgar Allan Poe in The Picture of Dorian
Gray,” has been reviewed in final form. Permission, as indicated by the signatures and dates given below, is now granted to submit final copies to the College of Graduate Studies for approval. Major Professor
Committee
Members
_____________________________________Date______________
Gary Williams
_____________________________________Date______________
Walter Hesford
_____________________________________Date_______________
Alexander Hammond
Department
Administrator
Discipline 's
College Dean
____________________________________Date______________
Kurt Olsson
_____________________________________Date_______________
Katherine Aiken
Final Approval and Acceptance by the College of Graduate Studies
_____________________________________Date_______________
Margrit von Braun
iii
Abstract
This thesis examines the influence of Edgar Allan Poe on Oscar Wilde and argues that Wilde used several Gothic motifs and themes in the fashion of Poe in his production of The Picture of
Dorian Gray. While many scholars note the significance of Poe in Wilde’s works, there is currently no substantial assessment of Wilde using Poe in his own writings. This study aims to alleviate this gap in scholarship by closely examining the Poe stories that are reflected in The
Picture of Dorian Gray, including Poe’s “Metzengerstein,” “The Assignation,” “The Oval
Portrait,” “The Imp of the
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