Ideas that help students enjoy the challenges in order to ge to know the work of one of America's most influential writers. Poe was the originator of the modern detective story, and also, through his "terror tales" and soulful poems, a master of the following: establishing a setting, sustaining an atmosphere, creating unforgettable characters, building an intriquing plot and developing thems dealing with love, loss, courage, greed, fear, and the the search for one's heart's desire.