Edgar Allan Poe

1. Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1849

2. Edgar Allan Poe • American author, poet, editor, and literary critic. • Considered part of the American Romantic Movement. • Lived throughout New England. • His writing was deeply impacted by the great hardships he faced in life, including many deaths of family members.

3. Poe: Early Life • Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809 as Edgar Poe. • His father abandoned their family in 1810, and his mother died a year later, so he was taken in by John Allan, who gave him the name “Edgar Allan Poe”. • He then lived in Virginia.

4. Poe: Later Life • Poe become engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster before he registered at the one-year-old University of Virginia in February 1826 to study ancient and modern languages. • A year later, Poe had given up on the University and his love, Sarah had married another man.

5. Poe: Later Life • When Poe was 18, he enlisted in the military to support himself. • During this time, Poe published his first collection of poetry. • Shortly after leaving the military, Poe had a falling-out with the Allan family and his brother, Henry, died. • After his brother’s death, Poe wrote more.

6. Poe: Later Life • On September 22, 1835, Poe secretly married Virginia, his cousin. He was 26 and she was 13 – they lied about her age so they could marry. • One evening in January 1842, Virginia showed the first signs of consumption, now known as tuberculosis. • Virginia died there on January 30, 1847.

7. Poe: Later Life • After his wife’s death, Poe continued to write, though normal life became difficult because of his increasingly erratic behavior and bad drinking habits. • He died on Sunday, October 7, 1849. • He was delirious at the time, so it is unsure what caused his death.

8. Poe: Works • Poetry: • Annabel Lee • The Bells • The Raven • Short Stories: • The Cask of Amontillado • The Fall of the House of Usher • The Tell-Tale Heart