The Purloined Letter

Dupin himself provides an explanation of his use of analogy—a kind of extended metaphor typically used to illustrate a point—when he states that “[t]he material world […] abounds with very strict analogies to the immaterial; and thus […] metaphor, or simile, may be made to strengthen an argument, as well as to embellish a description” (19-20). Two significant examples of metaphors include that of even and odd and the game of puzzles. First, Dupin delivers a lengthy description of the boy who consistently won at the game of even and odd to demonstrate the nature of Perception and Reality; by identifying with one’s opponent as this boy did, it’s possible to anticipate their actions (as Dupin does with Minister D——). Next, he explains the game of puzzles played on a map to show that it is possible for something to escape observation by being obvious, just as the minister hid the letter in plain sight. Dupin’s reliance on analogy underscores his argument about the importance of “poetry” in ascertaining truth, as it is a figurative form of speech that contrasts with the (supposedly) precise and objective reasoning of the mathematician.

As a literary device, framing essentially refers to a “story within a story.” In “The Purloined Letter,” the story of the crime and its resolution is framed within the narration that takes place in Dupin’s residence. The first part of the story consists primarily of the prefect narrating the events of the crime and the second of Dupin’s explanation of how he solved it. There is virtually no action in the main narration; it consists almost completely of dialogue with a few asides from the narrator. This reinforces the story’s main focus, which is not the crime but Dupin’s cunning intellect.