Essay | Edgar Allen Poe, Father of Modern Detective Fiction

E.A. Poe became the father of modern day detective stories by introducing Dupin in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" as the first detective to use analytical and imaginative reasoning to solve the mystery and will create a guideline for all detective stories to come. The word "detective" was not in existence until Poe's writings. Mysteries had existed but never such a story that used a "detector" or placed such emphasis upon analysis versus trial and error. The vivid painting of the scene of the crime as well as the crime itself was likewise never done in writings until Poe.

Poe was fascinated with puzzles, word games and secret codes. (Pos-Ho pg 1333) Poe expresses this fascination through his writings to dazzle his readers. Poe utilizes deductive reasoning in his stories to imitate a type of puzzle. This he was a master...
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