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A well-written effective short story is one that, by Poe's criteria, can be read in one sitting, or one hour, the single effect is revealed in the first sentence and the whole story contributes to that effect. The story should tell a truth, lesson, or logic, and should express tones and emotions. I think the story that best follows these guidelines is The Raven. This short story was first published in 1845 and reflects Poe's criteria most effectively.
The opening sentence of The Raven is what the whole story is based on and revolves around.
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
The story is about a man who is up at a very late hour pondering over old books seemingly trying to revive his wife's soul. He keeps hearing a tapping but can't seem to figure out where its coming from or what is making the noise. Throughout the story, the man is trying to talk to the raven, asking him if he knows of Lenore, which is probably the mans deceased wife. This fits the criteria because the bird is what was causing the tapping in the first sentence which disturbed his reading of the books that might help him to somehow contact Lenore...