Edgar Poe's Romance explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Truth vs. Fiction

  Jeorling questions the veracity of Poe's narrative, noting that only Len Guy believes it to be real, and contrasts plausible early events with increasingly fantastical later ones.

• Exploration and Discovery

  The chapter recounts Pym's voyages to the Antarctic, including the discovery of Tsalal Island and its unique features, highlighting the theme of geographical exploration.

• Survival and Endurance

  Pym endures extreme conditions in the hold of the Grampus—without light, water, or food—and survives a mutiny, a mad dog attack, and other perils.

• The Supernatural and Providence

  The narrative includes fantastical elements such as a bear on an ice fragment, a sea without icebergs, and the mysterious properties of Tsalal's streams, suggesting a supernatural or providential dimension.

Characters to notice

• Mr. Jeorling

  Narrates the summary of Edgar Poe's romance, expressing skepticism about its authenticity.

• Arthur Gordon Pym

  Protagonist of Poe's novel; born at Nantucket, befriends Augustus Barnard, embarks secretly on the Grampus, and later sails on the Jane towards the Antarctic.

• Augustus Barnard

  Son of Captain Barnard, friend of Arthur Pym, accompanies him on the Ariel and Grampus, and later communicates with Pym via a note tied to Tiger.

• Dirk Peters

  Half-breed sailing-master on the Grampus; intervenes to save Augustus Barnard during the mutiny and later accompanies Pym on the Jane.

• Captain Len Guy

  Mentioned as having gone to Illinois to look for Dirk Peters, linking the novel to the current narrative.

• Tiger

  The dog belonging to Arthur Pym; carries a note from Augustus to Pym and is initially thought to be mad but is later found to be suffering from thirst.

• William Guy

  Captain of the Jane; leads the expedition to Tsalal Island and negotiates with Too-Wit for bêche-de-mer.

• Too-Wit

  Chief of the natives on Tsalal Island; allows Captain William Guy to build sheds and later escorts the visitors to Klock-Klock.

Key passages

• “In this chapter I have to give a brief summary of Edgar Poe’s romance, which was published at Richmond under the title of The Adventures of Arthur Gordon Pym.”

  Jeorling announces that he will summarize Poe's novel about Arthur Gordon Pym.

  Introduction to the chapter's purpose.

• “But indeed, among the multitude of Poe’s readers, was there ever one, with the sole exception of Len Guy, who believed them to be real?”

  Jeorling doubts that any reader besides Len Guy considers Pym's adventures factual.

  Highlights the theme of truth versus fiction.

• “The story is told by the principal personage. Arthur Pym states in the preface that on his return from his voyage to the Antarctic seas he met, among the Virginian gentlemen who took an interest in geographical discoveries, Edgar Poe...”

  Pym claims to have met Edgar Poe after his Antarctic voyage and authorized the publication of his story as fiction.

  Explains the framing device of Poe's novel.

• “Arthur Gordon Pym was born at Nantucket, where he attended the Bedford School until he was sixteen years old.”

  Pym grew up in Nantucket and went to Bedford School.

  Provides background on Pym's early life.

• “Thus it was that the association of these youths gave rise to Pym’s irresistible vocation to adventurous voyaging, and to the instinct that especially attracted him towards the high zones of the Antarctic region.”

  Pym's friendship with Augustus Barnard sparked his passion for Antarctic exploration.

  Explains Pym's motivation for voyaging.

• “The first exploit of Augustus Barnard and Arthur Pym was an excursion on board a little sloop, the Ariel, a two-decked boat which belonged to the Pyms.”

  Pym and Barnard's first adventure was a trip on Pym's sloop, the Ariel.

  Describes the initial adventure.