Edgar Allen Poe

1. Edgar Allen Poe (1809 – 1849) Lecture Notes *Add to Narrator and Voice

2. Background • Born in Boston, Massachusetts • Foster child taken in by the Allen family (Richmond, VA) • Father deserted the family • Mother died before Poe was three years old • Taken in by foster parents • Foster parents begin to like Poe because of his scholarship and athletic ability • However…later, his foster parents became angry at his moodiness and irresponsibility with money

3. Education • Attended the University of Virginia • Dropped out with heavy gambling debts • Foster father refused to support him any longer • The two split completely with no further contact • Poe was left penniless • His only option was to enroll in the military, where he spent a little over 5 years • Eventually, he did reconcile with his foster father, who encouraged him to enroll in West Point

4. Family • Poe married his 13-year old cousin, Virginia Clemm • 1837 – moved to New York City and lived with her mother • Poe called her mother (his aunt / mother-in-law) “Muddy” • Drank excessively and was always in need of money

5. Career • Poe wrote regularly with increasing success • Had many unusual poems and stories, which were mocked by conservative critics • “The Cask of Amontillado” was published in 1846, during a time when Poe was enduring harsh insults from critics. • This story, which deals with the idea of revenge, might have been Poe’s way of getting even with critics (and possibly his foster father).

6. Tragedy • Virginia became ill with tuberculosis, and later died. • Almost 25% of Americans in the 19th century died from this disease. • Poe completely broke down as a result of her death. • Two years later, Poe was found on the streets of Baltimore delirious, "in great distress, and... in need of immediate assistance", according to the man who found him, Joseph W. Walker. • He was taken to the Washington College Hospital, where he died.

7. Tragedy • Poe was never coherent long enough to explain how he came to be in his dire condition, and, oddly, was wearing clothes that were not his own. • Poe is said to have repeatedly called out the name "Reynolds" on the night before his death, though it is unclear to whom he was referring. • Some sources say Poe's final words were "Lord help my poor soul.” • All medical records, including his death certificate, have been lost. • Newspapers at the time reported Poe's death as "congestion of the brain" or "cerebral inflammation"

8. The Debate… • Poe’s death brought up many questions soon after… • Was his death a result of alcohol poisoning or even rabies? (*there is some evidence that his symptoms also matched having been bitten by something with rabies) • There are scholars that believe both stories, and have provided evidence to back up each side. • Other items to consider – depression? tuberculosis?

9. Other texts by Poe • “The Tell-Tale Heart” • “The Black Cat” • “The Masque of the Red Death” • “The Pit and the Pendulum” • “The Raven” • “Eldorado” • “Annabel Lee”

10. Reading Assignment • Read “Cask of Amontillado” on pg. 173-179 – Due Monday