The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe Michael Shrawder 9 th Grade English Click Me!

Click on links to read about the life and times of Mr. Poe…if you dare. If, and only if, you’ve mastered the material you may try your hand at the quiz of quizzes. But beware, many have entered, few have returned! MWA HA HA HA!

-Born in Boston Father abandoned him in Mother Died Was soon adopted by John Allan and moved to Richmond -Went to boarding School in Chelsea -Studied at the University of Virginia

-Enlisted May 27 th Lied about his name and age upon enlisting -Achieved the rank of Sergeant Major for Artillery -Had his first book “Tamerlane and Other Poems” published during his time in the army -Only 50 copies were printed -After five years came clean about his name and age and was discharged

-Little is know about the death of Edgar Allan Poe -On October 3 rd 1849, Edgar Allan was found delirious and under great duress in the streets of Baltimore -Poe died on October 7 th at Washington Medical College -His cause of death was never determined -It is generally believed that alcoholism contributed to his death.

- Was the first well known American author to attempt to make a living on writing alone -After early attempts at poetry, Poe had an artistic shift towards prose -In 1838 “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket” was published and widely received -Became the Assistant Editor of The Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond in In 1845 “The Raven” was published and became a sensation

-During his lifetime he was most noted as a literary critic -His early detective fiction laid the groundwork for many other authors of the genre -Several authors have claimed to have ‘channeled’ Poe’s spirit into their works -Poe has often been used as a character in contemporary pop culture -His earliest home in Baltimore has been preserved as a museum dedicated to his life

The Raven The Raven The Masque of the Red Death The Masque of the Red Death The Tell-Tale Heart The Tell-Tale Heart Annabel Lee Annabel Lee Click me to return to the Main Menu

The Raven -A poem written in a narrative form -Tells the tale of an unnamed narrator who is visited by a Raven -The Raven speaks only the word “Nevermore.” -Through conversation, the narrator is reminded of his lost lover and how they will be reunited “nevermore.” Click me to return to “Literary Works”

Annabel Lee -This poem follows the story of a man who’s lover, Annabel Lee, had passed away -Published in They had lived in a “Kingdom by the sea” -The two “Loved with a love that was more than just love” -Follows a common theme in Poe’s works which is: The death of a beautiful woman Click me to return to “Literary Works”

The Masque of the Red Death -Takes place in a palace where many of the nobles have taken refuge from a plague sweeping the land -The Prince shows no remorse for the populace walling himself and others away to wait out the plague in luxury -The prince notices a figure dressed to look like those with the red death and follows him, dagger drawn -Upon confrontation, the prince keels over dead and the figure is revealed to be “The Red Death” Click me to return to “Literary Works”

The Tell-Tale Heart -Tells the story of a narrator who insists he is sane, but “sick” with over acute senses -He plots to murder an old man he lives with -He buries the man under the floorboards of his house -The narrator, however, continues to hear the man’s heartbeat until it drives him insane and he turns himself in Click me to return to “Literary Works”

Pop Quiz!! “The Tell-Tale Heart,” is a poem that focuses on the narrator’s grief over his long lost lover. The story takes place in a palace where many of the guests are hiding away in a mansion to escape the plague that affected his lover. Eventually the narrator is greeted by a raven who only speaks the word “Nevermore.” TRUE FALSE Click me to return to the Main Menu

CORRECT! Congratulations, you have mastered the literary analysis necessary to discern fraudulent information, kudos to you! Perhaps some day you will scribe your own tales of the bloodcurdling macabre! Click me to return to the Main Menu

INCORRECT… Perhaps one should study the material and try again, less the ghosts of failures haunt your mind…and report card for all eternity. Click me to return to “Literary Works” Click me to return to the Main Menu