An Introduction toEdgar Allan Poeincluding:“The Cask of Amontillado” and“The Tell-Tale Heart”

Edgar Allan Poe – The Early Years Born January 19, 1809 in Boston,

Massachusetts He was abandoned by his father

and was later taken in by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan after the death of his mother.

Poe entered the University of Virginia in 1826 and was expelled shortly after enrolling (probably because he didn’t have enough money).

Edgar Allan Poe – The Early Years Poe also attended West Point, but

left due to some gambling debts. He also enlisted in the United States Navy (where he came upon the idea for “The Cask of Amontillado”) and moved to Baltimore upon his discharge.

He moves into the home of his paternal grandmother (father’s mother). His aunt Maria Clemm and her children Virginia and Henry are also in residence.

The Middle Years

In May 1836, Poe married Virginia Clemm and the couple moved to Philadelphia.

Poe began to write regularly while in Philadelphia and eventually moved to New York City in 1844 to become the editor of The Evening Mirror.

Even though he found success with his works (The Raven was published in 1845), his personal live was full of sorrow. Virginia was very ill and her illness affected Poe deeply.

Virginia Clemm died in January of 1847. It is believed that her death led to Poe’s drinking problem and reignited his passion for gambling.

The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Poe moved back to Richmond, Virginia in 1849. In September of that year, he left Richmond for

Baltimore on a supposed business trip. On October 3rd, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe was found

unconscious on a street in Baltimore and died four days later.

Many theories surround the death of Poe, from him being bitten by a rabid squirrel and contracting rabies to a drunken Poe being robbed and beaten on the Baltimore street and left for dead.

Every year on his birthday, a mysterious stranger shows up at Poe’s grave and places a bottle of cognac and three roses on it.

To see his new funeral, click here.

The Work of Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe is credited with

being the father of the modern detective story. He also wrote numerous poems, tales of terror, and the first modern science fiction story.

In March 1835, “The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall” was published as the first modern science fiction story.

In 1841, “Murders in the Rue Morgue” was published as the first modern detective story.

1845 was called Poe’s “miracle year.” He published “The Raven,” his most famous poem, in January and it is an instant success.

A Selected List of Poe’s Works

Short Stories:“The Tell Tale Heart”“The Cask of Amontillado”“The Fall of the House of Usher”“Hop Frog”“The Black Cat”“The Pit and the Pendulum”

Poems:The RavenAnnabel LeeThe BellsTo Helen

The Women Poe Loved

Virginia Clemm Sarah Elmira Royster Sarah Helen Whitman

In 1825 Poe becomes “devoted” to Jane Stith Craig Standard, the mother of a schoolmate. He later writes the poem “To Helen” for her.

In 1826 he becomes engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster. The engagement is later called off by her family because of Poe’s “unstable characteristics.”

Poe marries Virginia Clemm in May of 1836, shortly before her fourteenth birthday (he’s 27).

In 1848, after Virginia’s death, Poe begins a three-month courtship with Sarah Helen Whitman, a poet. He proposes, and she rejects him.

In 1849, Poe becomes engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton (again). They never marry.

Literary Terms To Know

Point of View: the relationship between the storyteller (narrator) and the story.

First Person Point of View: the story is told by one of the characters, referred to as “I.” The reader generally sees everything through that character’s eyes.

Literary Terms To Know

Unreliable Narrator: a narrator who in some way distorts the truth.

Irony: a contrast between what appears to be and what really is.

“The Cask of Amontillado”

“A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.”

Words to Know

Amontillado: a dry, pale sherry

cask: a large barrel for storing wine

retribution: a deserved punishment

trowel: flat bladed hand tool used to work with mortar or to dig holes for plants

Words to Know

catacomb: an underground tunnel or area with holes for graves

connoisseur: a person who is able to be a judge in matters of art and taste

embed: to enclose firmly in some mass

virtuoso: one skilled in the fine arts as an accomplished musician

Key Facts Setting:

somewhere in Europe during Carnival Season, most likely Italy Carnival is like Mardi

Gras, a festival of food and indulgence before the Lenten season.

Time: sometime in the 1800’s

Characters

Montresor is the narrator. He is dressed in a cloak and mask and carries a small dagger with him.

Characters

Fortunato is dressed in a court jester’s (fool’s) outfit. His name means good fourtune.

“The Tell-Tale Heart”“ TRUE! – NERVOUS – VERY, very dreadfully nervous had I been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?”

Words to Know

acute: sharp, intense

profound: insightful, smart

sagacity: wisdom

crevice: a crack

Words to Know

scantlings: floor boards

audacity: boldness

reposed: rested

hypocritical: two-faced, phony, fake

Key Facts

Setting: The story is told as a flashback. The action of the story takes place at midnight; the narrator is retelling the story around dawn.

Characters

Characters: The Narrator – a madman who is like an assistant to the old man

The Old Man – the object of the narrator’s odd fixation; the old man has a cataract on one of his eyes