Research Specifications

Art and science have long been considered as two separate and sometimes contradictory disciplines. The language of art, and more specifically literature, is the language of sensibility and imagination; and the language of science is the language of certainties and logic. In his article “Science in Literature” (first published in Nature, in 2005), the novelist and biology teacher, Simon Mawer states that “Scientists are logic and facts; writers are imagination and fantasy; and between these opposite poles lies a profound gulf.” There, for sure, is a contradiction between science and literature which can proceed even to the verge of opposition; but it will be a false notion to think that the presence of one requires the absence of the other one. Contrary to the prevailing opinion, commixture of these two disciplines results in richer and more efficient works. In his article “The Almost Unknown Poet, Emily Dickinson” (published in 2011), Audiey Kao who is a physician, suggests the poems by Dickinson as a way to cope with stressful experiences of life and as a result to reduce the risk of heart attack. On the other hand, there are also numerous writers who take advantage of their scientific knowledge to enhance their writing, among which are Nathaniel Hawthorne, Lewis Carroll, G. H. Wells, and the most notably, Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849) was an American writer, critic, and editor; mostly known for his poetry, invention of detective story, and contribution to the origination of science fiction and horror stories, Poe put a great emphasis on the structure and style in works of literature. He is considered as an influential figure in French Symbolism and the art for art’s sake movement along with being a key figure in American Romanticism. Poe’s works are mostly known for their quality of being mysterious, dark, full of surprises, and containing scientific information. There can be seen many scientific facts in Poe’s writings, many of which were explore