Is Edgar Allan Poe the creator of symbolism?

[ProudCanadian]

I'm doing a literary research essay on the extensive use of symbolism in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". While doing some research in an encyclopedia (The World Book Encyclopedia), I came across something that I find sort of odd. Either I'm not reading it right, or it's an absolutely amazing piece of information.

"Poe celebrated pure forms of beauty and opposed the didactic in poetry. These attitudes laid a foundation for later literary movements, notably symbolism." Is this saying that he pretty much invented symbolism, or is it saying something else?

 

[drockhammy]

it saying that he inspired literary movements, specifically in symbolism. symbolism has been around since people began telling stories to each other, Poe is just a really good example of taking it to a new level and adding dimension to it.

so he didn't invent it, he just changed the way people looked at it.