Background

Poe’s Childhood• Poe lost both of his

parents at an early age.

• His mother, Eliza, was an actress who died of Tuberculous when Edgar was not even 3 years old.

Poe’s Childhood

• Poe was taken in by the Allan family after his mother died.

Poe’s Childhood

• Poe grew up in Richmond, Virginia where he was a very athletic and happy child.

• He also spent time in England.

Poe’s Education• Poe attended the University of Virginia• He was forced to leave due to gambling debts that his foster father John Allen refused to pay

Poe’s Education

• Poe then joined the Army and later attended West Point in an effort to please his foster father

Poe’s Family Life

• John Allen calls Poe to his deathbed to tell him that he was left out of his will

Poe’s Family Life

• Poe’s relationship with Allan is likely the source for his combative attitude

Poe’s Family Life• Poe falls in love with

and marries his cousin Virginia when she was not quite 13 years old

• Poe was a loving and devoted husband

Poe’s Writing Career• Poe begins writing and

publishing poems and short stories

• He works as a magazine editor where his harsh reviews earn him the nickname, “The Comanche of Literature”

Poe’s Writing Career• Poe is credited with

having created the detective story

• Most of Poe’s writings reflect the horrible personal tragedies that he suffered

Poe’s Writing Career• In 1845, “The

Raven” is published and poe receives great praise and fame

• However, he earned just $14 for the poem

Poe’s Writing Career

• “The Raven” foreshadows what was going to happen to Virginia and how Poe would react to the loss of his wife

Poe’s Writing Career• In 1847, Virginia

dies of consumption (tuberculosis)

• She joins a long list of people Poe knew and loved that died of the disease

Poe’s Writing Career

• In “The Masque of the Red Death”, the Red Death symbolizes tuberculosis

Poe’s Writing Career

• Poe pays tribute to his late wife in the poem “Annabel Lee”

Poe’s Writing Career

• As evidenced in his writing, Poe yearned for a connection with the afterlife.

Poe’s Demise• Poe suffered from

financial problems throughout his life

• Toward the end of his life, Poe felt the desparate need to “secure a wife.”

Poe’s Demise

• Poe turned to drinking with led to bouts of insanity.

Poe’s Demise

• On October 7, 1849, Poe dies in Baltimore.

• His last words were “God, help my poor soul.”

Credits• http://b-womeninamericanhistory19.blogspot.com/2009/10/edgar-allan-poe-1809-1849-his-13-year.html• http://indusitralizationedgarallanpoe.blogspot.com/• http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/poe/exhibition/familyhistory/index.html• http://richmondthenandnow.com/Newspaper-Articles/Poe-2.html• http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/edgar-allan-poes-former-dorm-room-124088• http://poeinscotland.com/id20.html• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=57771403• http://www.eapoe.org/poeimage.htm• http://www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poef003.htm• http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/p/poe/edgar_allan/p74p/poem69.html• http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-masque-of-the-red-death/18220• http://theundergroundconservative.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/poe-grave-mystery-visitor-fails-to-show/