Pieces of any given entity are seldom meaningful until placed together. Pieces of a puzzle appear better together than apart, yet it takes time and thought for the process to finish. Puzzles, along with reading a brilliant writer also takes time and effort to process. Puzzling is a perfect way to describe Edgar Allan Poe and his works of art. Poe has charmed generations with his unique ability of writing and fascinating life.
An example of a puzzling thought process by Poe appears in his short story, The Murder in the Rue Morgue. This murder mystery story takes place in which an unnamed narrator and C. Auguste Dupin set out to investigate the murders of Madame L’Espanaye and Mademoiselle Camille. “To observe attentively is to remember distinctively; and, so whole the rules of Hoyle (themselves based upon the mere mechanism of the game) are sufficiently and generally comprehensible.”[1] The logical thought process behind Poe and placing together a puzzle hold the same characteristics. As readers, we must observe with attention the words or pieces placed in front of us. For example, remembering where we left off, or placing ideas in the back of our minds to return to. “It will be found, in fact, that the ingenious are always fanciful, and the truly imaginative never otherwise analytic.”[2] Poe shows in order to be clever, the observer must be unusual. The frame narrative of explaining a game before the actual investigation allows the reader to start thinking in an imaginative way. The strategies of Hoyle are similar to the strategies of an investigation by forming in a distinctive order to seek a conclusion. The Murder in the Rue Morgue is an example of observation’s pieced together by an investigator in order to solve a puzzle. Inspection and observation can be expected in brain games and what should be expected from Edgar Allan Poe as a reader.
A small 5 by 5-inch white box containing a 30-piece puzzle set sits still on a blank desk. The edges peak sharp; the color snow white with the finished picture of the puzzle on the front of the box. The top of the box showcases Poe, in black and white with a raven upon his head. Given that the whole poem shows on the puzzle box makes it meaningful because Poe cannot be Poe without The Raven. The Raven landed a name for Poe. Not only is it his most celebrated poem, it is also one of the most legendary poems to use in literature today. The majority of the box displays black and white with a sliver of green on the left hand side. Covered in the colors black and white seem appropriate for symbolizing Edgar Allan Poe because he had defined thoughts with a dark sense of humor. The only vibrant color on the box forms a green vertical line with the words, “30-piece puzzle set.” This green line represents the main color on the website where I ordered this puzzle, The Café Press. No description or directions can be found on this box, and as a whole appears relatively blank. This dainty box contains an activity that makes you think, by piecing parts together that reach an overall conclusion.
The Poe puzzle has a bottom and a top to slide off viewing the puzzle inside. All the observers can see are small pieces that need to be placed together. At first glance, all these pieces are at random without knowing their exact placement until laid out. The puzzle pieces have a glossy finish and are also black and white just as the box. Once the puzzle is placed together the picture is a classic portrait of Edgar Allan Poe with a raven standing on top of his head with the words, “The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe” at the bottom. A 9 by 7-inch puzzle containing the whole poem of The Raven takes roughly 10 minutes to put together.
I found this artifact online at The Café Press. The Café Press is an online store that contains items ranging from children’s wear, home décor, glass cups, and crafts that anyone can design themselves. They also carry thousands of puzzles with different designs. Hundreds of Poe puzzles can be located on this site. This particular Poe puzzle has the best ratings along with being the first to show up on the puzzle. One of the most famous authors that this site carried, along with the most intriguing arrangements can be found with the simple search word “Poe.” The designs on these puzzles range from small quotes of his to detailed murals.
Concentration to small detail is needed in solving a jigsaw puzzle. A necessary quality to reading Edgar Allan Poe successfully is close reading. The steps a reader takes to close read a text is parallel to the problem solver finishing a puzzle. Poe maps out his stories to leave the readers puzzled; it is up to the individual to find their own solution. I chose my artifact for the interesting correlation our minds use when solving a puzzle and reading Poe. This pop culture item confirms Poe is still relevant today, and many individuals who keep up with his work can go through a puzzling process when close reading them. Reconstructing our minds to think like Poe when reading his short stories such as The Murders in the Rue Morgue, shows that if we are fanciful and imaginative, we can be problem solvers. Puzzling is a perfect way to describe Edgar Allan Poe.