EDGAR ALLAN

POE1809 - 1849

The Early Years

• His father deserted the family early on• His father deserted the family early in his

life• He was a model scholar and popular

leader among his schoolmates.

Growing Up

• In his teens he began exhibiting traits that eventually made him a great write

-Reciting poetry out loud-taking risks-Falling into daydreams and romantic pining-Distinct aversion to follow in his father’s footsteps into the worlds of

business and law

• John Allan cut off Poe’s tuition payments causing Poe to gamble to earn school fees

Becoming a Professional Writer

• 21 years old, two of his volumes of poetry had been published

• Poe worked as an editor on literary magazines in Philadelphia and New York City while also writing stories and poems

• 1845, Poe achieved much fame and recognition as he would ever achieve “The Gold Bug” – sold 300,000 copies “The Raven” – became an instant success

Personal Life

• Married Virginia, his cousin, in 1836

• Finally settled in New York City

• In 1847, Virginia died of tuberculosis

The Final Days

• No one knows what happened during that time; he was found unconscious, rushed to a hospital, but could not be revived

• Poe died on October 7 mysteriously, although there are many assumptions.

Poe’s Reputation

• Poe seldom drank because he was allergic to alcohol, probably died from diabetes or a brain tumor, despite the rumors that were spread about him.

• Poe remains the inventor of the detective story, the critic who set standards for evaluating literature, the poet who captured mood through rhyme and rhythm, and the story writer who dared to delve into the deepest recesses of our dreams