The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar

What techniques does Poe employ to create the impression of factuality in this work of fiction? How does this affect our impression of the story?

How does Poe convey the connection and rupture between mind and body in this story? At which points in the story does this theme emerge most clearly?

How does Poe convey the connection and rupture between mind and body in this story? At which points in the story does this theme emerge most clearly?

How does Poe employ dialogue in this story, and how can you relate this to some of the larger themes?

What kind of horror would you consider this story to utilize? Psychological horror? Body horror? A combination, or some other kind? Justify your choice using details and make comparisons with other texts within this genre.

What is the role of the supernatural in this story? When, and how, do we get a sense that there will be unexplained elements of this narrative, and what effect does this have on readers?

Discuss Poe’s use of the motif of sleep in this story. What kind of condition is Valdemar’s slumber, and how does it relate to life and death, both in the story, and more generally?

How is the practice of Mesmerism treated in this story? How does the Narrator present it to us, and how do we understand it as we read the whole story of the curious case of M. Valdemar?