I found it interesting how many parallels Poe made in this poem to life in general. He seemed to be writing along the same theme as Shakespere had in his quote "All the world's a stage." It seemed to me that he was saying that no matter how hard we try to make a mark on the world, we are all going to die one day.

I thought it interesting that Emily Dickinson's poem was about just her dying while Poe's poem was more about a group of people dying.

Dickenson's life was already hell, as was Poe's, so why would they care. Poe was a morbid little man, while people just assumed that Dickenson was "creepy".

The two authors have nothing, and everything in common. Weird, no?

Any interpretations of who plays the role of the Conqueror Worm?
Given the plot of horror, and the visuals offered, such as the quivering form's imbuing of human gore, I don't think I can visualize this Conqueror Worm as someone or something good.

Any ideas?

I agree with what Liz is saying. Poe is saying you are going to die some day, whether or not you accept that is up to you. Which poem is Leah talking about because there's more than one Dickinson poem we had to read?

The Conqueror Worm is a difficult poem to understand. What I take from the reading is the Conqueror Worm is refering to God as mans hero, however I am unsure as to why Poe would refer to God as a worm.

Well, since Poe isn't the easiest poet to understand, here's what I got out of this poem:
First, it seems like he's talking about God being the Conqueror Worm. "And much of Madness, and more of Sin, And Horror the soul of plot." This quote stood out to me because it seemed to depict a lot of basic human agony and fear of God.

"That the play is the tragedy, 'Man,'
And its hero, the Conqueror Worm."

I chose this quote because I have come to the conclusion that Man is the entire play, and the protagonist in this play is Death. The play is the life of man, "Madness" "Sin" "Horror" are all ideas that are a part of life. Death plays the hero because Death takes over in a dramatic way. Do not forget that "the curtain, a funeral pall" death has already won, and usually a hero is viewed as someone who wins more than loses (unless it is a case of a Tragic Hero which this is not the case). The earlier and later stanzas are basically the stage setup (life) and when the curtains close, then THAT is the end of the show.

In Poe's poem, I didn't necessarily see the viewpoint of an actual theatre. It seems more to me like a struggle of good and evil. Man is fighting an opposing force, all the while on stage. The line " A blood-red thing that writhes from out The scenic solitude!" reminds me of a "devilsh" character...maybe...what do you think?

While I can appreciate the other group's idea of a central theme of theatre in Poe's Conqueror Worm, I myself find an overwhelming image of the ancient battle of good and evil. From the second stanza, first line- "Mimes, in the form of God on high, Mutter and mumble low" the word MIMES reappears in the the fourth stanza, sixth line- "The mimes become its food, And over each quivering form In human gore imbued." In my opinion, mimes are men, the conqueror worm is death, who eats them, poetically.

The Conqueror Worm is like most of Poe's writing, not very cheerful. "A play of hopes and fears," He focuses on that many peopl if not all haves hopes and dreams, but no matter what they are, if you succeed or fail, at the end of your days you are gonna die. He really doesn't write to make you a happy person.

And much of Madness, and more of Sin,
And Horror the soul of the plot.

This quote sticks out to me, as well as the following:

Out—out are the lights—out all!
And over each quivering form
The curtain, a funeral pall,
Comes down with the rush of a storm,
While the angels, all pallid and wan,
Uprising, unveiling, affirm
That the play is the tragedy, "Man,"
And its hero, the Conqueror Worm.

The entire last stanza of the poem plays up the words "Madness" and "Sin" and "Horror"--all of which described Hell in Poe's time. He is saying that the plot of the play, entitled "Man" is that man goes to hell because of Madness and Sin, and the last "act" of the "play" is "Horror" or "Hell".

Tom, I see Poe's "Conqueror Worm" as you do. For all "Man's" efforts in the end he or she is devoured by "the Conqueror Worm"--a depressing thought. Also, Poe's choice of words stands in stark contrast to Dikinson's.

Poe's poem was very different than dickinson's poem not only in attitude but structure. Poe's poem gave a very negative outlook on death and life, while dickinson's seemed much more upbeat.

Isn't "the Conqueror Worm" -also- the physical / actual worms that eat a corpse in grave after a man's death eventually?

(Well, besides the symbolism that connects the "CW" to the concept of death itself and in general just as well of course.)

After all, the final "conqueror" of a man's life (its rotting skin and flesh at least) are the worms that eat the dead body under the soil.

And after finishing the entire meal, (and rather too fast for that since there are lots of them acting together,) the worms eat each other too until only one remains, the "last conqueror" so to say, albeit this one dying (of hunger!) in its own due time and then none other conqueror worm to remain.

Btw, kind of indirectly we can relate the idea to a perfect "Creationism" attitude perhaps that was a fashionable way of thinking for many people [including Darwin] in those times.

Just a thought ...