Question

According to Edgar Allan Poe in "The Philosophy of Composition", Why are long poems a problem when it comes to "Unity of Impression"?

A) Because they have to be read in more than one sitting, which breaks up the effect.
B) Because they contain so much imagery and symbolism, which becomes overwhelming.
C) Because they are essentially several poems in one, which means there is not unity.
D) Because they become harder to find rhymes for, which ruins the overall mood.

Answer 1

Answer: because they have to be read in more than one sitting, which breaks up the effect.

Answer 2

A, because they have to be read in more than one sitting, which breaks up the effect.

To quote him, “If any literary work is too long to be read in one sitting, we must be content to dispense with the immensely important effect derivable from unity of impression.”

Hope this helps!