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The Murders in the Rue Morgue

by Edgar Allan Poe

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Topics for Discussion

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1. Carefully examine the initial pages of the story and discuss the nature of the "analytical" faculty.

2. Compare and contrast the personalities of Dupin and his companion. In what ways are they similar? How do they differ? Is Dupin's character well-suited for his role as an amateur detective?

3. Explain how Dupin appears to read his companion's thoughts during their walk through the streets of Paris.

4. Identify the aspects of the crime, as reported in the newspapers, that most perplex the police. Which aspects capture Dupin's interest the most?

5. What are the differences between the methods used by the Paris police to solve a crime and those employed by Dupin?

6. Discuss how Dupin solves the crime by reconstructing the events in the way he believes they "must" have occurred.

7. Why does Poe choose to use an animal as the murderer in the story instead of a human being?

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