Life

-Edgar Allan Poe- Born January 19, 1809 in Boston- died October 7, 1849 in Baltimore

-Parents died when he was young and was taken by John and Frances Allan. Poe’s parents were actress Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe and actor David Poe, Jr.

-John and Frances Allan were rich merchants that lived in Richmond, Virginia.

-Poe sailed to England in 1815 with the Allan’s and to grammar school in Irvine, Scotland. He then rejoined his family in London in 1816. Then Poe went to boarding school at Chelsea until 1817.

-Moved back to Virginia in 1820.

-1826 became engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster.

-Enrolled in University of Virginia with intent to study language.

-At University of Virginia Poe became distant from Royster and his foster father over gambling debts.

- He left the University after a year when his sweetheart Royster married another and moved back to Boston in April 1827. At Boston he was using the pseudonym (alias) Henri Le Rennet.

 -Poe attempted to be in the military for a while. When Poe enlisted in the Army he said his name was Edgar A. Perry and was 22 years old and not 18. In 1827 he released his first book, a 40 page collection of poetry titled Tamerlane and other poems.

-Tried to end his five year enlistment early by giving his real name and age. Commanding officer would only discharge him if he reconciled with John Allan. John Allan agreed and supported Poe’s discharge.

-Poe was then appointed to in the United States Military Academy at West Point.

-Came out with Al Aaraaf Tamerlane and Minor Poems in 1829.

-In 1830 wanted to get court-martialed purposely which he did by neglect of order and disobedience.

-After being discharged Poe went to New York and released his third volume of poems titled ‘Poems’. 

-Returned to Baltimore March 1831.

- Placed a few stories with a Philadelphia publication. Began work on his only drama ‘Politian’. ‘The Saturday Visitor’ a Baltimore paper awarded Poe a prize in October 1833 for ‘MS. Found in a Bottle’.

-Became assistant editor with the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond. Poe was discharged from the place because he was found drunk repeatedly.

-Returned to Baltimore where he married his cousin Virginia on September 22, 1985. She was 13.

-On January 29, 1845 his poem ‘The Raven’ appeared in the Evening Mirror and made Poe a household name.

-Poe spent the last few years of his life in a small cottage in the Bronx, New York

-Virginia died January 30 1847.

-Biographers and critics often suggest Poe’s frequent theme of the “death of a beautiful woman” stems from the repeated loss of women throughout his life, including his wife. 

-Edgar Allan died at the age of 40 on October 7, 1849. The cause of his death is undetermined. Poe suffered from depression and madness.

Poe’s Works

Tales "Berenice" "The Black Cat" "The Cask of Amontillado" "The Fall of the House of Usher" "The Gold-Bug" "Hop-Frog" "Ligeia" "The Man of the Crowd" "The Masque of the Red Death" "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" "The Pit and the Pendulum" "The Purloined Letter" "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Poetry "A Dream Within A Dream" "Annabel Lee" "The Bells" "The City in the Sea" "The Conqueror Worm" "Eldorado" "The Haunted Palace" "Lenore" "The Raven" "Ulalume"

Contribution to Literature

Edgar Allan Poe (was an American poet, short story writer, editor, literary critic, and one of the leaders of the American Romantic Movement). Poe is best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre. Poe was one of the early American practitioners of the short story and a progenitor of detective fiction and crime fiction. He is also credited with contributing to the emergent science fiction genre.

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