Life of PoeLife of Poe  American writer, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement  Born as Edgar Poe in Boston  Orphaned at a young age and unofficially adopted by John Allan of Richmond  Attended the University of Virginia briefly before briefly attending West Point  First published work, Tamerlane and Other Works came in 1827 credited to “a Bostonian”

Life of PoeLife of Poe  His work forced him to move between several cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and NYC  Published The Raven in 1845 achieving instant success  While working on his own journal, The Penn Poe died October 7, 1849, at age 40  Cause of his death is unknown and has been variously attributed to alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis, and other means

The RavenThe Raven  Narrative poem first published in January 1845  Noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere  Details a raven’s mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness  Poe wrote the poem very logically and methodically, intending to create a poem that would appeal to both critical and popular tastes  Uses internal rhyme heavily as well as alliteration  Legacy  made Poe widely popular in his lifetime, though it did not bring him much financial success  Earned Poe the nickname “The Raven”  Produced many different parodies  Both praised and criticized by literary contemporaries

The Cask of AmontilladoThe Cask of Amontillado  Short story first published in November 1846  Details the deadly revenge taken by the narrator on a friend who has insulted him  Continues Poe’s fascination and the contemporary interest in being buried alive as is the fate of the narrator’s friend  Based on a personal rivalry between Poe and Thomas Dunn English  Legacy  First published in Godey’s Lady Book – which at the time was the most popular periodical in America  May have been inspired by the Washingtonian Movement – a temperance movement  One of Poe’s most well- recognized and often read short stories

American RomanticismAmerican Romanticism  Artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe  Considered in part a revolt against aristocratic social and political norms of the Age of Enlightenment  Validated strong emotion as an authentic source of aesthetic experience, placing new emphasis on such emotion as trepidation, horror and terror, and awe  Celebrated the ideals of a gifted, perhaps misunderstood loner, creatively following the dictates of his inspiration rather than the mores of contemporary society.

American RomanticismAmerican Romanticism  Movement reached America in the early nineteenth century  Incorporated high level of moral enthusiasm, commitment to individualism and the unfolding of the self, an emphasis on intuitive perception, and the assumption that the natural world was inherently good, while human society was filled with corruption  Embraced the individual and rebelled against the confinement of neoclassicism and religious tradition  Created a new literary genre that continues to influence American writers  Romantic literature was personal, intense, and portrayed more emotion than ever seen in neoclassical literature