Edgar Allan Edgar Allan PoePoe

America’s first America’s first professional professional

writer.writer.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe Born in Boston, Mass.,

Jan. 19, 1809. His mother, brother and

sister, and he were abandoned by his father, David Poe Jr., when Edgar was an infant.

Mother, Eliza Arnold Poe, an actress, died of tuberculosis when he was 3 years old.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

Each of the Poe children were Each of the Poe children were taken in by different families.taken in by different families.

Edgar was taken in as a foster Edgar was taken in as a foster child by the family of John child by the family of John Allan, a wealthy tobacco Allan, a wealthy tobacco merchant.merchant.

Mrs. Allan probably pushed her Mrs. Allan probably pushed her husband to take Edgar in, but husband to take Edgar in, but there was never much love there was never much love between the two of them – between the two of them – Edgar was never adopted.Edgar was never adopted.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe 1815-20 The Allan family traveled 1815-20 The Allan family traveled

to England. Edgar attended a to England. Edgar attended a number of well respected schools number of well respected schools while there – this made him well while there – this made him well educated as a child.educated as a child.

1820-25 He continued his 1820-25 He continued his education in Richmond, VA.education in Richmond, VA.

Feb. 1826 He enrolled at the Feb. 1826 He enrolled at the University of Virginia to study University of Virginia to study languages.languages.

Poe accumulated large gambling Poe accumulated large gambling debts at UVA, and his debts at UVA, and his sweetheart, Sarah Royster, sweetheart, Sarah Royster, married a classmate, Alexander married a classmate, Alexander Shelton.Shelton.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe John Allan refused to pay Edgar’s gambling John Allan refused to pay Edgar’s gambling

debts, despite being quite wealthy.debts, despite being quite wealthy. Edgar was angry with John for this, and for Edgar was angry with John for this, and for

having a number of affairs while Mrs. Allan having a number of affairs while Mrs. Allan lay dying of tuberculosis.lay dying of tuberculosis.

He was especially angry that John Allan did He was especially angry that John Allan did not support or acknowledge several children not support or acknowledge several children who were born as a result of these affairs.who were born as a result of these affairs.

The two of them became estranged, and did The two of them became estranged, and did not speak much after that.not speak much after that.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe In order to escape his gambling debts, Poe enlisted In order to escape his gambling debts, Poe enlisted

in the U.S. Army under the name “Edgar A. Perry.”in the U.S. Army under the name “Edgar A. Perry.” 1827 He published his first book, 1827 He published his first book, Tamerlane and Tamerlane and

Other PoemsOther Poems at his own expense. It did not sell well, at his own expense. It did not sell well, and received very little critical attention.and received very little critical attention.

After rising to the rank of Sergeant Major, he left the After rising to the rank of Sergeant Major, he left the Army to enter West Point.Army to enter West Point.

In the interim between leaving the Army and In the interim between leaving the Army and entering West Point (April, 1829 to June, 1830) he entering West Point (April, 1829 to June, 1830) he moved in with his aunt Maria Clemm, and her moved in with his aunt Maria Clemm, and her daughter Virginia, His brother Henry, and his invalid daughter Virginia, His brother Henry, and his invalid Grandmother. Grandmother.

All evidence indicates that this was a very positive All evidence indicates that this was a very positive and supportive environment for him.and supportive environment for him.

Edgar Allen PoeEdgar Allen Poe October, 1830 John Allan October, 1830 John Allan

remarried, and he and Poe had a remarried, and he and Poe had a falling out. The Allan family falling out. The Allan family disowned Poe.disowned Poe.

After spending a year at West After spending a year at West Point, he began intentionally Point, he began intentionally neglecting his duties to force a neglecting his duties to force a “court martial” and get himself “court martial” and get himself dismissed. He was kicked out in dismissed. He was kicked out in Feb. 1831.Feb. 1831.

He first went to New York, where He first went to New York, where he published his 3he published his 3rdrd book of book of poetry, entitled poetry, entitled PoemsPoems. It also . It also received little attention.received little attention.

He then returned to Baltimore, He then returned to Baltimore, to “Muddy” Clemm’s home, to “Muddy” Clemm’s home, where he felt supported and where he felt supported and welcome.welcome.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe In August, 1831, his brother Henry died of In August, 1831, his brother Henry died of

tuberculosis.tuberculosis. After not getting much positive feedback on his After not getting much positive feedback on his

poetry, Poe shifted his focus to writing prose – poetry, Poe shifted his focus to writing prose – particularly short stories, for which he is best known particularly short stories, for which he is best known today.today.

1833 He published “MS Found in a Bottle” in a 1833 He published “MS Found in a Bottle” in a Baltimore paper, which got him some critical Baltimore paper, which got him some critical exposure – people liked this story.exposure – people liked this story.

July, 1835 He got a job working as an assistant editor July, 1835 He got a job working as an assistant editor at the at the Southern Literary MessengerSouthern Literary Messenger, a magazine , a magazine based in Richmond.based in Richmond.

He was fired a few weeks later for being repeatedly He was fired a few weeks later for being repeatedly drunk on the job.drunk on the job.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe Poe returned to Baltimore Poe returned to Baltimore

and secretly married his and secretly married his cousin, Virginia Clemm, cousin, Virginia Clemm, who was 13 at the time.who was 13 at the time.

He was by all accounts He was by all accounts very much in love, and a very much in love, and a devoted husband.devoted husband.

After promising to clean up After promising to clean up his act, the his act, the Messenger Messenger agreed to take him back.agreed to take him back.

He, Virginia and Muddie He, Virginia and Muddie moved back to Richmond moved back to Richmond where they held a second, where they held a second, public wedding ceremony public wedding ceremony for he and Virginia.for he and Virginia.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe Poe was successful in his second effort at the Poe was successful in his second effort at the

Southern Literary MessengerSouthern Literary Messenger, helping to grow , helping to grow its circulation from 700 to 3500 subscriptions.its circulation from 700 to 3500 subscriptions.

From 1836 to 1841, Poe worked at three From 1836 to 1841, Poe worked at three different, well-respected magazines, different, well-respected magazines, establishing a good reputation as a tough establishing a good reputation as a tough critic and talented writer.critic and talented writer.

During this time period, he also wrote dozens During this time period, he also wrote dozens of essays and short stories, and a few more of essays and short stories, and a few more poems.poems.

This period concluded with his efforts to start This period concluded with his efforts to start his own literary magazine, which never his own literary magazine, which never materialized.materialized.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

January, 1842 Virginia was stricken with January, 1842 Virginia was stricken with tuberculosis.tuberculosis.

Poe was devastated, and began drinking Poe was devastated, and began drinking heavily again due to the stress of her heavily again due to the stress of her illness.illness.

Poe had bought the magazine Poe had bought the magazine Broadway Broadway JournalJournal, and it went bankrupt in 1846., and it went bankrupt in 1846.

Virginia died in 1847, in Bronx, New York Virginia died in 1847, in Bronx, New York where Poe had bought a cottage on the where Poe had bought a cottage on the edge of Fordham University. edge of Fordham University.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe After Virginia’s death, Poe became After Virginia’s death, Poe became

increasingly unstable, and continued to increasingly unstable, and continued to drink heavily.drink heavily.

He courted well-known poet Sarah Helen He courted well-known poet Sarah Helen Whitman, who would eventually rebuff him, Whitman, who would eventually rebuff him, largely due to his drinking and the largely due to his drinking and the interference of Whitman’s mother.interference of Whitman’s mother.

He also pursued his college sweetheart, He also pursued his college sweetheart, Sarah Royster, and Annie Richmond, a Sarah Royster, and Annie Richmond, a married woman from Providence, RI, during married woman from Providence, RI, during this time.this time.

He clearly was looking for a feminine He clearly was looking for a feminine influence in his life.influence in his life.

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

On October 3, 1849, Poe was found On October 3, 1849, Poe was found delirious in the street.delirious in the street.

He was wearing clothing that was not his He was wearing clothing that was not his own, and was never coherent enough to own, and was never coherent enough to tell anyone what had happened to him.tell anyone what had happened to him.

He eventually died on October 7He eventually died on October 7thth of of undetermined causes.undetermined causes.

Modern scientists think he likely died of Modern scientists think he likely died of rabies, although others have suggested rabies, although others have suggested advanced alcoholism, political kidnapping, advanced alcoholism, political kidnapping, or suicide.or suicide.

Poe’s philosophyPoe’s philosophy People are basically evil and must struggle People are basically evil and must struggle

to be good.to be good. Conscience controls the individual and Conscience controls the individual and

aids in this struggle.aids in this struggle. When people separate themselves from When people separate themselves from

society, bad things happen.society, bad things happen. Poe doesn’t usually use morals or lessons, Poe doesn’t usually use morals or lessons,

but often uses symbolism, which adds to but often uses symbolism, which adds to the overall effect of the piece.the overall effect of the piece.

Poe believed that literature should induce Poe believed that literature should induce a “hypnogogic” state in a reader, allowing a “hypnogogic” state in a reader, allowing him/her to gain a glimpse of divine truth.him/her to gain a glimpse of divine truth.

Poe’s philosophyPoe’s philosophy The purpose of poetry and literature is the The purpose of poetry and literature is the

aesthetic – it’s primary purpose is to be aesthetic – it’s primary purpose is to be beautiful, not necessarily to teach a lesson.beautiful, not necessarily to teach a lesson.

The effect of poetry and literature is to The effect of poetry and literature is to create a mood which elevates the soul, create a mood which elevates the soul, creating a spiritual experience.creating a spiritual experience.

Humans are only capable of experiencing Humans are only capable of experiencing this for short periods of time (45 minutes or this for short periods of time (45 minutes or so).so).

Longer, epic works are simply a series of Longer, epic works are simply a series of these shorter aesthetic experiences strung these shorter aesthetic experiences strung together, moving the reader in and out of together, moving the reader in and out of spiritual elevation. spiritual elevation.