Structural Analysis of Selected Tales by Poe

Structuralism and narratology are approaches which can be used in literary studies. Structuralism, in its Proppian and classic form, is normally applied in studying ancient texts, myths and folktales. However, such approaches can also be employed for investigating works from the last two centuries, such as works by Edgar Allan Poe. Propp proposes thirty one functions and seven actors which are similar and frequently used in Russian folktales. This paper investigates similar functions in selected tales of Allen Poe Tales – ''The Tell-Tale Heart'', ''The Black Cat'' and ''The Cask of Amontillado'' – which have similar features to Propp’s theory: hatred, murder, crime and hiding a body in a building – with some minor differences – have been typically and repeatedly used in the mentioned tales.