Ghosts, Eidolons, Spirits, and Ghouls in Nineteenth Century American Poetry

GHOULS

 

OED Defnition: 

 

An evil spirit supposed (in Muslim countries) to rob graves and prey on human corpses. 

 

Analysis of Representations in Nineteenth Century American Poetry: 

 

Ghouls are the most malicious of the four undead characters. Ghouls, like ghosts haunt people and graveyards. Unlike ghosts, however, they do not have humanity. In "Dream-Land" by Edgar Allan Poe, the ghouls rest in the underworld with ghosts and spirits. Yet it is unclear if they too were once living, now undead. "Ulalume" would suggest that they are merely evil spirits without a previous human life. This ambiguity suggests an underlying fear of what could happen to someone once they die, how in death a person can become a monster. Ghouls are a warning. 

 

List of Poems in which Ghosts Appear:

 

"Ulalume" by Edgar Allan Poe

"Dream-Land" by Edgar Allan Poe