Edgar Allan Poe -The Life of an American

Writer-

Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1849

Edgar Allan Poe is a famous American writer of short stories and poetry.

He is most well known for his dark, gothic style of writing.

Historical Facts About His Life

Born in 1809 in Boston. Parents both actors and died when he was 3Raised in Richmond, Virginia by rich merchant, John Allan & wifeA rebel who liked to drink and gamble in first year of school at Virginia University.

Historical Facts About His Life

Acquired many debts, John Allan refused to pay them for him; Poe no longer had any monetary supportEnlisted in the army, but continued to write for fun.Kicked out of West Point for disobedience (on purpose)

How He Became Famous

First book was written in college (1827) and was called TAMERLANE A collection of old English style poetry that got great reviewsCould no longer be supported by his guardian or by the army, he took to writing full time

Lost a lot of his money gamblingAllergic to alcohol and drugs; they made him illEditor of his own magazineFirst books were published anonymously Was inspired by real murdersDidn’t get along with his guardian, but wanted his inheritance

Little-Known Facts

Major Life Events

Poetry and short stories were mostly acclaimed

Virginia died at only 24, which influenced much of his writing

Married his cousin Virginia, she was only 13 Never earned enough money to support wife and himself

2 years after death of wife, engaged his childhood sweetheartStopped in Baltimore to bring Mother-in-law to weddingFound semi-conscious, intoxicated outside a tavern, died 4 days laterMuch mystery & debate about how/why he died

How He Died

Poe’s Style andContribution to

Literature…

New Literary Techniques Poe invented the following:

modern gothic writing“short prose narrative” or what we call the short storymodern detective story – “rationcination” solving a mystery through reasoning“principle of the total effect”-everything in story stays focused on the point-No excessive showy language-Appeals to emotions not intellect-Appeals to all 5 senses

Poe’s Types of Writing

Psychological Story Narrative that explores the mind/psyche

Horror/ Gothic Story Narrative that explores the horrifying or supernatural

Detective Story Narrative that solves a mystery

Poetry Rhythmic Verse

Poe’s Technique

Morbid Settings (gruesome, gloomy, unhealthy)Imagery: words that appeal to the 5 sensesFirst Person point of view (“I” as narrator)Irony (when the audience knows something the character does not or an unexpected outcome)Atmosphere of "probable but impossible."

Elements of Gothic in Poe’s Fiction

Grim setting Landscapes are often reflections of character’s

mind. Unusual buildings, extremes of nature,

eccentric works of art Very few of his stories take place in America;

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

Other elements of the Gothic

Hidden evil Unspeakable, mysterious crimes, including incest

and parracide

Obsession with Death Ghosts, blood, body parts

Maniacal Laughter

The discovered manuscript gives responsibility to someone else the grotesque--people who don’t look right are

capable of activity beyond the norm

Literary Terms Continued…

Allegory - objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself.

The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or envy.

Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.

Literary Terms

"Foreshadowing” is the presentation in a work of literature of hints and clues that tip the reader off as to what is to come later in the work.

can be, in fact, a form of 'backwriting.' The writer goes back through the copy and adds foreshadowing to prepare the reader for later events. . . .

Most Famous Works

Short Stories:-The Tell-Tale Heart-The Black Cat-The Masque of the Red Death-The Pit and the Pendulum-The Fall of the House of Usher

Poems:-The Raven-Annabel Lee

The Murders of the Rue Morgue (First modern detective story)*not reading