Edgar Allan Poe

Influences His mother – Elizabeth His mother – Elizabeth –Was a successful stage actress. So successful that her parents brought to America at the age of 8 to perform –Instant Success! –Married at the age of 13 to the lead comedian in the acting troupe –Widowed at age 14

Whoa! A widow already?! Yes, E.A.P.’s mother was married at a young age, but this was not that uncommon at the time Yes, E.A.P.’s mother was married at a young age, but this was not that uncommon at the time –To fill the gap in the acting troupe of her now dead husband, the troupe hired David Poe  Together, they produce Edgar Allan Poe  At the age of 17, Elizabeth Poe is commissioned to play the lead in Romeo and Juliet. –She played the role up to 8 times a week!

Hmmmm, I wonder why… E.A.P. was only 1 years old when he began to watch his mother perform on stage in the role of Juliet E.A.P. was only 1 years old when he began to watch his mother perform on stage in the role of Juliet –Seeing his mother commit suicide 8 times a week made quite the impression on young Edgar –He became obsessed with beautiful, young, DEAD, women –Also, Elizabeth is given permission to use the theater as their home

Death! Poe’s mother dies when he is 3 ½ years old Poe’s mother dies when he is 3 ½ years old –Tuberculosis – death certificate would read as drowning Frances Allan, a wealthy woman, wants to adopt Poe, but her husband opposes Frances Allan, a wealthy woman, wants to adopt Poe, but her husband opposes As a result, he becomes obsessed with 4 things: As a result, he becomes obsessed with 4 things: –Beauty, youth, death, and women Motif of the color black in many stories… why is that, do you think? Motif of the color black in many stories… why is that, do you think?

Adulthood and Writing Career Poe went to the University of Virginia (what did he “major” in?) Poe went to the University of Virginia (what did he “major” in?) He came home, and he found out Frances Allan was dying of consumption, and John threw Edgar’s things out and told him he hated him. He came home, and he found out Frances Allan was dying of consumption, and John threw Edgar’s things out and told him he hated him. Poe tried to make money by writing. He was not successful Poe tried to make money by writing. He was not successful He probably would have starved when he was 22, but a woman named Mariah Clemm helped him to make up for her brother (Edgar’s biological father). Unfortunately, she had 5 other children to support. One of her children was Edgar’s 1st cousin Virginia, who was 10 ½ years old. He probably would have starved when he was 22, but a woman named Mariah Clemm helped him to make up for her brother (Edgar’s biological father). Unfortunately, she had 5 other children to support. One of her children was Edgar’s 1st cousin Virginia, who was 10 ½ years old. Poe fell in love with Virginia and married her when she was 13 years old and Poe was 26. Poe fell in love with Virginia and married her when she was 13 years old and Poe was 26.

Writing Career con’t. The one man that turned Poe’s life around (in 1842) was Charles Dickens, whose story inspired Poe to change his poem, “To Lenore”, to “The Raven”, which met with great success because it was the first adult fairy tale. The one man that turned Poe’s life around (in 1842) was Charles Dickens, whose story inspired Poe to change his poem, “To Lenore”, to “The Raven”, which met with great success because it was the first adult fairy tale. *SIDE NOTE: Charles Dickens is the first international superstar who has lunch with Poe while on a tour in America after Poe writes a letter to Dickens. Dickens tells that he is quite sad over the death of his family’s pet, a raven.) After Poe made $0 on “The Raven,” he found out Virginia had consumption and was going to die. After Poe made $0 on “The Raven,” he found out Virginia had consumption and was going to die. –As a result, Poe wrote a memorial poem titled “To Virginia”, which he later changed to “Annabel Lee”.

The Tale of Terror … Poe invented the tale of terror. It is different from a “scary story” because it contains the following themes/motifs: Poe invented the tale of terror. It is different from a “scary story” because it contains the following themes/motifs: –Psychologically tormented characters –Paranormal activity/supernatural phenomena –Settings that are dark, dreary, and desolate Poe is also considered the father of the short story because he believed that each line should continue to a single effect (mood/tone). Poe is also considered the father of the short story because he believed that each line should continue to a single effect (mood/tone). SIDE NOTE: All authors from then on tried to intimidate him. The atmosphere in all of Poe’s work is dreary. The atmosphere in all of Poe’s work is dreary.

Two famous stories: The Murders at Rue Morgue and The Tell- Tale Heart

Edgar Allan Poe Museum Poe Museum Poe Museum Poe Museum Opened in 1922, in The Old Stone House, the museum is only blocks away from Poe's first Richmond home and his first place of employment, the Southern Literary Messenger. Opened in 1922, in The Old Stone House, the museum is only blocks away from Poe's first Richmond home and his first place of employment, the Southern Literary Messenger.

The Raven

His death Poe was offered a job in New York as a writer. Poe was offered a job in New York as a writer. He never made it because on a train change in Baltimore, men trying to swindle votes for the mayor got him so drunk that he fell into an alcohol-induced coma, dying three days later. He never made it because on a train change in Baltimore, men trying to swindle votes for the mayor got him so drunk that he fell into an alcohol-induced coma, dying three days later. –(SIDE NOTE – FULL STORY: Edgar stepped off the train in Baltimore on Election Day, when the corrupt mayor was attempting to seek re-election. Peculiar-looking man that he was, Edgar immediately drew the attention of some of the mayor’s henchmen, who give him “Baltimore Iced Tea” [10 parts vodka, 1 part lemon] to coerce him into voting for the mayor. He votes, stumbles out of the booth, and falls into the coma. He is found in a gutter and is taken to a hospital, where he wakes three days later, screams, “God have mercy on my soul!”, and promptly dies.) He died in a gutter at the age of 40. He died in a gutter at the age of 40. This is where we get the phrase “wound up in a gutter”) This is where we get the phrase “wound up in a gutter”)

Where’s Edgar?

3 types of irony – write these at the bottom of your notes – –Verbal Irony: Saying something when you mean something else (ex: General Zaroff in “TMDG” says, “We try to be civilized here.”) – –Situational Irony: Occurs when a situation turns out to be just the opposite of what we expect (ex: Meeting the Wizard of Oz) – –Dramatic Irony: When we know something that the characters in the story do not