Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe

1809-18491809-1849

His LifeHis Life

““The want of parental affection,” wrote The want of parental affection,” wrote Poe, “has been the heaviest of my trials.Poe, “has been the heaviest of my trials.

Father was a drunkFather was a drunk He abandoned his mother who died son He abandoned his mother who died son

after, leaving Edgar an orphan before the after, leaving Edgar an orphan before the age of three.age of three.

He was taken in by John and Frances Allan.He was taken in by John and Frances Allan. John provided generously for Edgar’s John provided generously for Edgar’s

education but did not formally adopt him. education but did not formally adopt him.

Edgar grew up longing for a natural fatherEdgar grew up longing for a natural father John Allan disapproved of Edgar’s idleness, John Allan disapproved of Edgar’s idleness,

indifference to business life and literary indifference to business life and literary aspirationsaspirations

This probably contributed to Edgar’s This probably contributed to Edgar’s moodinessmoodiness

He attended the University of VirginiaHe attended the University of Virginia He became engaged to a girl named Elmira He became engaged to a girl named Elmira

RoysterRoyster Her family put an end to the romance; Edgar Her family put an end to the romance; Edgar

was not to inherit John Allan’s fortunewas not to inherit John Allan’s fortune

After being withdrawn for school by John After being withdrawn for school by John because of gambling debt, and eventually because of gambling debt, and eventually dismissing himself from West Point, he dismissing himself from West Point, he moved in with his aunt, Maria Poe Clemm.moved in with his aunt, Maria Poe Clemm.

In 1835, he married her thirteen- year- In 1835, he married her thirteen- year- old daughter, Virginia.old daughter, Virginia.

Virginia died in 1847 of tuberculosis.Virginia died in 1847 of tuberculosis.Poe died soon after, in 1849, from a brain Poe died soon after, in 1849, from a brain

lesion and apparently too much to drinklesion and apparently too much to drink

His Tragic LifeHis Tragic Life

His mother is widowed at 18—Poe is fatherlessHis mother is widowed at 18—Poe is fatherless Two years after Poe’s birth, his mother diesTwo years after Poe’s birth, his mother dies He is taken in by the Allens, but never adoptedHe is taken in by the Allens, but never adopted At college Poe’s step-father financially abandons At college Poe’s step-father financially abandons

himhim Mrs. Allen dies; Mrs. Allen dies; Mr. Allen remarriesMr. Allen remarries Makes a meager living writing profound literary Makes a meager living writing profound literary

criticism; meets Rufus Griswoldcriticism; meets Rufus Griswold Marries Virginia Clemm—who dies youngMarries Virginia Clemm—who dies young Courts older womenCourts older women Dies under strange circumstancesDies under strange circumstances

European RomanticismEuropean Romanticism

Individualism & Individualism & NonconformityNonconformity

Nature-WorshipNature-WorshipPrimitivismPrimitivismInterest in the Supernatural Interest in the Supernatural

or Vanished Culturesor Vanished Cultures

Stress on Feeling and EroticaStress on Feeling and EroticaInterest in the past or medieval Interest in the past or medieval

timestimes

Stress on Mysticism & Stress on Mysticism & SymbolismSymbolism

An Apocalyptic ExpectationAn Apocalyptic ExpectationEmphasis on ImaginationEmphasis on Imagination

Themes Specific to PoeThemes Specific to Poe

The Supernatural Heightened The Supernatural Heightened to the Grotesqueto the Grotesque

The Artist As a Superior BeingThe Artist As a Superior BeingVampirismVampirismDoppelgangerDoppelgangerSelf-DestructionSelf-DestructionSearch for IdentitySearch for Identity