The Murders in the Rue Morgue

“The Murders in the Rue Morgue”

• Genre: Fiction; mystery; detective
• Originally Published: 1841
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 890L; grades 9 and up
• Structure/Length: Short story; approximately 38 pages; approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The short story follows C. Auguste Dupin, a brilliant amateur detective, and his friend as they investigate a gruesome double murder in Paris. A mother and daughter are found murdered in an apartment on Rue Morgue. The crime scene is perplexing, and the investigation reveals puzzling details that seem to defy explanation. The central conflict revolves around Dupin’s use of logical deduction and keen observation to solve the baffling mystery and uncover the truth behind the seemingly impossible crime.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence; themes of crime and mystery; graphic depictions and explanations of murder

Edgar Allan Poe, Author

• Bio: Born 1809; American writer, poet, and literary critic; a central figure in the American Romantic movement; known for his macabre and mysterious works, often exploring themes of death, “madness,” and the unknown; “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is considered one of the earliest detective stories and a precursor to the mystery genre; his writing has had a lasting impact on mystery, horror, and detective fiction; known for his contributions to the short story form
• Other Works: “The Fall of the House of Usher” (1839); “The Masque of the Red Death” (1842); “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1842); “The Tell-Tale Heart” (1843); “The Raven” (1845); “The Cask of Amontillado” (1846); “Annabel Lee” (1849)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Power of Rationality
• Social Isolation Through Transience
• Language as a Social Barrier

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the literary and historical context regarding the development of the first detective story, which impacts Poe’s characterization of Dupin as a deductive reasoner.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Power of Rationality, Social Isolation Through Transience, and Language as a Social Barrier.
• Draft and present a creative writing assignment that demonstrates an understanding of both the plot elements of the detective story as well as Dupin’s characterization, based on text details.