EDGAR ALLAN POEAuthor Study

A LIFE OF TRAGEDY AND MYSTERY• Born Edgar Poe• Boston, January 19, 1809• Son and second child of traveling actors• He had a sister named Rosalie

• Dad abandoned the family when Poe was just a year old• Mom died at the early age of 24 – Poe was two• He and his sister were taken in by the Allans (Frances

and John)• They adopt Rosalie, but not Edgar

POE TAKES THE ALLAN NAME• Even though he isn’t adopted, Poe is raised by the Allan’s• Wealthy, gentlemanly upbringing• At 17, Poe goes to college• University of Virginia• Fights with John Allan over money and runs away after 1

term• Ends up in Boston and publishes his first book

• Poetry• Doesn’t make money from it

• To keep from starving, Poe enlists in US Army• 18 months at Fort Independence in Boston

FOSTER MOTHER DIES

• John and Edgar try to reconcile• John agrees to send Poe to US Military Academy in West Point,

NY• Eventually John disowns Poe – they couldn’t get along

• Poe visits his father’s family in Baltimore• Meets his aunt – Maria Clemm and her daughter• Virginia!• Maria mothers him – loves him

• At West Point, Poe is unhappy• Does fine in his studies• Resorts to alcohol• Misses his new family too much

POE PURSUES WRITING• After 8 months at West Point, Poe leaves• Returns to Baltimore and Maria Clemm• Poverty stricken widow

• 1833 wins $50 for his story “Ms. Found in a Bottle”• Works for leading literary magazines• Not a lot of money• Stories, poetry, reviews

• 1836 he marries Virginia – she is only 13• While unconventional, it was a happy union

VIRGINIA DIES

• Pulmonary tuberculosis – 1847 (she is sick for about 5 years)• Poe is devastated• Tries to rally and traveled to literary centers in his last year of life• Gives readings and lectures• New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond

• “Literature is the most noble of professions. In fact, it is about the only one fit for a man.”

POE DIES IN 1849

• He is only 40• Very mysterious and tragic death• He is found semi-conscious• Wandering in Baltimore• Died of what they called “congestion of the brain”• Theories about what he died of are still debated today