Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

The Love of His Life – Virginia Clemm(1822-1847) "the

loss of his wife was a sad blow to him. He did not seem to care, after she was gone, whether he lived an hour, a day, a week or a year;

she was his all."

A Literary Genius?

• One of the earliest known American writers of the short story

• First well-known author to try to earn a living through writing alone

• Considered to be the inventor of the detective-fiction style

• Considered by some to be the creator of the horror, gothic, crime styles

• First American writer to be more popular in Europe than the USA

A Mystery Writer’s Death a Mystery?

• Died in Baltimore at the age of 40• Causes explored and rumored: alcoholism, brain congestion, cholera, drugs,

heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis……• found on the streets of Baltimore delirious, "in great distress, and... in need of

immediate assistance“(Oct.3,1849) • “a depraved, drunk, drug-addled madman”• "Edgar Allan Poe is dead. He died in Baltimore the day before yesterday. This

announcement will startle many, but few will be grieved by it”(Oct.9,1849)

The Black Cat & The Tell-Tale Heart1843

The Cask of Amontillado

• First published in November 1846• Horror short story• A classic Poe work that centers around the

victim being buried alive (immurement)• Told from the killer’s point of view• This story does not involve a police investigation

Montresor – the narrator/killer

His family motto- “Nemo me impune lacessit”( no one

can attack me without being

punished)

His Motive - __________.

(Theme or main idea)

Fortunato The Victim

Not so fortunate

and dressed as a jester at the Carnival, he is made a

fool by the killer. This is

very ______.

The Palazzo

The Catacombs

The Bait for Revenge – Amontillado492 litres