Read the passage. edgar allan poe the great american writer edgar allan poe is known for his haunting poetry and his literary criticism. his skill as a critic had great influence on the writing of his time; it also earned him enemies. poe led a life that can only be described as tragic, yet he left an indelible mark on american literature. what makes this passage an example of formal rather than informal writing? a) its humorous tone b) its use of conversational language c) its vocabulary and grammar or d)its first-person narration