Uma análise das singularidades e semelhanças entre as obras detetivescas “Os Assassinatos na Rua Morgue”, de Edgar Allan Poe, e “Quem Matou Zebedeu”, de Wilkie Collins

Abstract

The purpose of this paper, in the field of Literary Studies, is to analyze structural and thematic elements in two detective stories: “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1842), by Edgar Allan Poe, and “Who Killed Zebedee” (1881), by Wilkie Collins. Such analyses are based on Van Dine’s and Todorov’s theories. From these perspectives, I compare and contrast elements — in both texts — which represent the Victorian production of detective stories, aiming at identifying cultural and historical marks that distinguish structures and narrative themes in the literary texts discussed herein. Positivist and Enlightenment thoughts, which historically define the detective characters, are some of the thematic and structural elements focused on in this study.

The purpose of this paper, in the field of Literary Studies, is to analyze structural and thematic elements in two detective stories: “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1842), by Edgar Allan Poe, and “Who Killed Zebedee” (1881), by Wilkie Collins. Such analyses are based on Van Dine’s and Todorov’s theories. From these perspectives, I compare and contrast elements — in both texts — which represent the Victorian production of detective stories, aiming at identifying cultural and historical marks that distinguish structures and narrative themes in the literary texts discussed herein. Positivist and Enlightenment thoughts, which historically define the detective characters, are some of the thematic and structural elements focused on in this study.