Edgar Allan Poe (1809-Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)1849)

Melodramatic LifeMelodramatic Life

Determining the facts of Poe’s life has Determining the facts of Poe’s life has proved difficult, as lurid legend became proved difficult, as lurid legend became entwined with fact even before he died.entwined with fact even before he died.

Some of these legends were spread by Some of these legends were spread by Poe himself.Poe himself.

Two days after Poe’s death, his literary Two days after Poe’s death, his literary executor began a smear campaign, executor began a smear campaign, rewriting Poe’s correspondence so as to rewriting Poe’s correspondence so as to alienate many of his friends.alienate many of his friends.

Early LifeEarly Life Poe was born in Boston on January 19, Poe was born in Boston on January 19,

1809, his parents’ second child.1809, his parents’ second child. His father deserted the family a year later.His father deserted the family a year later. In December 1811, his mother died at In December 1811, his mother died at

twenty-four, and her husband disappeared twenty-four, and her husband disappeared completely.completely.

Poe was taken in by John Allan, a Poe was taken in by John Allan, a successful and stable Richmond merchant.successful and stable Richmond merchant.

College and West PointCollege and West Point Poe spent most of 1826 at the Poe spent most of 1826 at the

University of West Virginia, doing well University of West Virginia, doing well in his studies, but running up gambling in his studies, but running up gambling debts and drinking.debts and drinking.

He was admitted at West Point in 1830, He was admitted at West Point in 1830, but got himself expelled by missing but got himself expelled by missing classes and roll calls.classes and roll calls.

By 1831, Poe had already published By 1831, Poe had already published three versions of his early poetry.three versions of his early poetry.

Poe’s DeathPoe’s Death During the last two years of his life, Poe During the last two years of his life, Poe

was seriously ill--perhaps with a brain was seriously ill--perhaps with a brain lesion--and drinking steadily.lesion--and drinking steadily.

On Election Day, October 3, 1949, he On Election Day, October 3, 1949, he was found senseless near a polling was found senseless near a polling place.place.

Taken to a hospital, he died on October Taken to a hospital, he died on October 7, “of congestion of the brain.”7, “of congestion of the brain.”

A recent theory is that he died of rabies.A recent theory is that he died of rabies.

Poe worked in a variety of Poe worked in a variety of genres (1827-1849)genres (1827-1849)

Criticism--he gained a national reputation as a Criticism--he gained a national reputation as a virulently sarcastic critic, a literary hatchetman. The virulently sarcastic critic, a literary hatchetman. The bulk of his writing consists of his criticism, and his bulk of his writing consists of his criticism, and his most abiding ambition was to become a powerful most abiding ambition was to become a powerful critic.critic.

Poetry--He was an experimental poet.Poetry--He was an experimental poet. Psychological fiction--He wanted to produce the Psychological fiction--He wanted to produce the

greatest possible horrific effects on the reader.greatest possible horrific effects on the reader. Detective Story--Poe created this form when he was Detective Story--Poe created this form when he was

32, will all its major conventions complete.32, will all its major conventions complete.

Characteristics of Poe’s Characteristics of Poe’s detective storiesdetective stories

Poe places veiled clues before the reader.Poe places veiled clues before the reader. The writer/narrator strives to appear The writer/narrator strives to appear

objective.objective.– Poe would have liked to solve everything by Poe would have liked to solve everything by

the mind.the mind.– He was disturbed by what he could not solve He was disturbed by what he could not solve

by reason.by reason. The climax of the story is the narrator’s The climax of the story is the narrator’s

explanation of the crime.explanation of the crime.

Poe and the GothicPoe and the Gothic

Poe did not want to write gothic stories; Poe did not want to write gothic stories; he started his career spoofing the he started his career spoofing the Gothic.Gothic.

He said that he wrote, “Tales of terror, He said that he wrote, “Tales of terror, not of Germany, but of the soul.”not of Germany, but of the soul.”

He transformed tales of terror into He transformed tales of terror into psychological stories; he delved into psychological stories; he delved into the mysterious recesses of the human the mysterious recesses of the human mind.mind.

Elements of Gothic in Elements of Gothic in Poe’s FictionPoe’s Fiction

Grim settingGrim setting– Landscapes are often reflections of Landscapes are often reflections of

character’s mind.character’s mind.– Unusual buildings, extremes of Unusual buildings, extremes of

nature, eccentric works of artnature, eccentric works of art– Very few of his stories take place in Very few of his stories take place in

America; most take place in Europe or America; most take place in Europe or Never-never-land.Never-never-land.

Other elements of the Other elements of the GothicGothic

Hidden evilHidden evil– Unspeakable, mysterious crimes, including incest and parracideUnspeakable, mysterious crimes, including incest and parracide

Obsession with DeathObsession with Death– Ghosts, blood, body partsGhosts, blood, body parts

Maniacal LaughterManiacal Laughter The discovered manuscriptThe discovered manuscript

– gives responsibility to someone elsegives responsibility to someone else DeformityDeformity

– the groteque--people who don’t look right are capable of the groteque--people who don’t look right are capable of activity beyond the normactivity beyond the norm

An element of Poe’s styleAn element of Poe’s style

Poe uses vocabulary to create Poe uses vocabulary to create setting, for rhetorical effect, rather setting, for rhetorical effect, rather than for information.than for information.

Modern horror films use music to Modern horror films use music to create atmosphere; Poe used create atmosphere; Poe used vocabulary.vocabulary.

Hawthorne/PoeHawthorne/Poe

Hawthorne Hawthorne described the described the conflict between conflict between the intellect and the intellect and heart.heart.

Poe described the Poe described the conflict between conflict between two sides of the two sides of the intellect.intellect.