'Two Poe Tales' Summary

In 'How To Write a Blackwood Article', Poe presents a tongue-in-cheek guide to crafting a successful horror piece. He parodies the expected elements of Gothic horror as found in Blackwood's Magazine, emphasizing the reliance on dark settings, supernatural elements, and emotional manipulation to create a sense of fear. The companion piece, 'A Predicament,' takes the satire a step further by presenting the tale of a female author struggling to write a compelling horror story while navigating the conventions of the genre and the expectations placed upon her as a woman writer. Poe uses his sharp wit to critique the formulaic aspects of horror writing, while also highlighting the challenges and limitations faced by women in the literary world during his time.