Edgar Allen Poe's novel is known as dreadful and horrific because of its Aesthic Impact, he is a well known gothic writer and his novels could be considered dreadful or horrific because its themes are centered on Mystery, the Supernatural, and Death.
Usually, a c or g sound is hard or soft depending on the vowel that follows it. Here's the general rule: When c or g meets a, o, or u, its sound is hard. When c or g meets e, i, or y, its sound is soft.