The vision of the mind is easily depicted through the art of literature, painting a picture with a stroke of words. The natural inspiration that influences the creation of these works comes from the creator's life and experiences. To some, these tales become stories and these stories become novels, but to a man, it means so much more. Edgar Allan Poe's works became his life; he expressed every feeling and every moment of his existence through ink and paper. Poe involved his entire life in his writing, leaving no element of the story untouched by his trademark of the past. His work became so unique and unorthodox, but it didn't lack the attention it deserved. American critic Curtis Hidden Page suggested that "the essence of his work is logic, a logic entirely divorced from reality and which seems to arise above reality" (Quinn 31). The basis of Poe's stories seems simple enough, but beneath the surface remain unanswered questions and undiscovered truths, which have yet to be discovered. The people and experiences throughout Edgar Allan Poe's life influenced various themes, including: madness, revenge, death and guilt, which can be distinguished through a collection of his works. Poe endured more than any individual should endure and experienced so much negativity that it was almost inevitable that the theme of madness would appear in his works. He suffered throughout his life from an excessive number of difficulties and tragedies that placed him on the verge of madness. The first sign of Poe's madness is found in his short story "The Black Cat", where the narrator states that "he is not crazy". Present in a state of denial, Poe's character will say or do anything to give up the claim to ...... middle of paper ...... second. Boston, Toronto Canada: Little, Brown & Company, 1962. 5.8. Print.Evans, Robert C. "Edgar Allan Poe, 'The Cask of Amontillado'." 212. Literary reference center. Internet. May 1, 2012. .Jordan, Katie. “What influenced the works of Edgar Allan Poe?.” Geek wise. (2003): 1-3. Internet. May 7. 2012. Quinn, Patrick F. The French Face of Edgar Poe. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1957. 31. Print. Roderick, Phillip L. The Fall of the House of Poe and Other Essays. New York Lincoln: iUniverse, Inc., 2006. 2,3,10. Print. Winwar, Frances. The Haunted Place A Life of Edgar Allan Poe. First of all. Harper, New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1959. 23.26 226. Print.