1. "The Raven" (1845): A classic poem about a grieving man haunted by a raven. Known for its haunting atmosphere, dark themes, and memorable refrain.
2. "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843): A short story about a man who murders an old man and then is driven mad by the sound of the victim's beating heart. Famous for its intense psychological suspense.
3. "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839): A Gothic novella about a narrator who visits his friend Roderick Usher at his decaying family mansion. It explores themes of madness, isolation, and the destructive nature of inherited trauma.
4. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841): Considered the first detective story, featuring the brilliant detective C. Auguste Dupin. The story is known for its clever use of logic and deduction to solve a baffling crime.
5. "The Pit and the Pendulum" (1842): A short story about a man imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisition who faces a terrifying series of torture devices. Known for its vivid descriptions of horror and its exploration of the powerlessness of the individual against a cruel system.