The Purloined Letter

Poe described “The Purloined Letter” as one of his best stories of “ratiocination,” or the process of exact thinking. How does the story represent ratiocination?

What elements of Romanticism and Dark Romanticism are found throughout the story? How do these elements affect the narrative?

Drawing on the allusion to Atreus and Thyestes and Dupin and Minister D——’s shared initial, some critics have suggested that the two might be brothers. How would this affect your reading of the story and its themes?

There are many significant omissions throughout “The Purloined Letter.” Examine who chooses to omit what and how these omissions relate to the meaning of the text.

The majority of the narrative unfolds through direct quotation and dialogue rather than action. How does this add to the meaning of the text?

Are any of the characters successful in wielding the power that comes from possessing the letter? What, if any, power does the queen hold when she possesses the letter?

Does “The Purloined Letter” read like a detective story? Why or why not?

What is the role of the narrator in the text, and is it significant to the meaning of the story?