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Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe. 1809-1849. His Family and Tragic Life. Born in Boston The son of traveling actors Tragic and unhappy life. Tragic and Unhappy Life. Mother died of tuberculosis and his father deserted him at the age of two Fostered by a wealthy merchants, Mr. and Mrs. John Allan

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Edgar Allan Poe

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  1. Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1849

  2. His Family and Tragic Life • Born in Boston • The son of traveling actors • Tragic and unhappy life

  3. Tragic and Unhappy Life • Mother died of tuberculosis and his father deserted him at the age of two • Fostered by a wealthy merchants, Mr. and Mrs. John Allan • Constant disagreements with his step-father developed in his teenage years

  4. . . .continued • Studied briefly at the University of Virginia • Drinking and gambling problems kept him from continuing at UVA • Moved back to Baltimore to stay with his widowed Aunt Maria Clemm, her daughter, Virginia, his brother Henry, and his invalid grandmother • Poe’s brother dies of tuberculosis

  5. . . .continued • Received an appointment to West Point, but he provoked his own dismissal • Caused a final separation between Poe and his step-father

  6. . . .continued • In 1836 married his 14 year old cousin, Virginia • In 1845, “The Raven” was published and was enormously popular • In 1846 wife died of tuberculosis after a long illness

  7. . . . continued • Lived in poverty stricken conditions • Last 12 years of life worked as a journalist, editor, and creative writer

  8. Addiction??? • Sometimes strange special effects have been linked addiction to opium • Addiction was not uncommon in the 1800’s, because of frequent use of laudanum, an opium based medicine, to treat headaches and stomach pains

  9. Addiction??? • Died in Baltimore of unknown causes • Much of what we “know” today about Poe’ death came from a biography published shortly after his death by another writer who hated Poe

  10. Addiction??? Every January 19, Poe’s birthday, in the early hours of the morning, the man makes a toast of cognac to Poe's original grave marker and leaves three roses Adding mystery surrounding Poe's death, an unknown visitor referred to as the "Poe Toaster" has paid homage to Poe's grave every year since 1949 Likely that the "Poe Toaster" is actually several individuals

  11. Poe’s Legacy Known for: • Tales of mystery/suspense and terror stories • Introducing the modern detective story

  12. Poems: The Raven Annabel Lee To Helen The Bells Short Stories The Tell-Tale Heart The Cask of Amontillado The Fall of the House of Usher Just a Few Titles…

  13. Gothic Elements • Supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the action • High emotion, sentimentalism, but also pronounced anger, surprise, and especially terror • Use of words indicating fear, mystery, etc.: apparition, devil, ghost, haunted, terror, fright, fainting

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