The Humor Review

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The Humor Review
The Humor Review
What’s in a Funny Name?

What’s in a Funny Name?

How Edgar Allan Poe’s naming convention for a fictitious town can help storytellers.

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Andrew Belfry
Oct 25, 2023
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The Humor Review
The Humor Review
What’s in a Funny Name?
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Names are important. While we’ve all been told not to judge a book by its cover, one author would like you to judge a town by its name.

In Edgar Allan Poe’s satirical short story “The Devil in the Belfry,” the funny name for the fictitious town the narrative takes place in is meant to reinforce a central theme and offset violence in the story.

Photo by Ga…

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