1. Edgar Allan Poe

2. His Family and Tragic Life
Born in Boston
The son of traveling actors
Tragic and unhappy life

3. Tragic and Unhappy Life
Mother died, father deserted him at the age of two
adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan
constant disagreements with his step-father

4. . . .continued
Studied briefly at the University of Virginia
Drinking and gambling difficulties kept him from continuing at UVA

5. . . .continued
Received an appointment to West Point, but he provoked his own dismissal
Caused a final separation between Poe and his step-father

6. . . .continued
In 1836 married his 14 year old cousin, Virginia
Last 12 years of life worked as a journalist, editor, and creative writer

7. . . . continued
Lived in poverty stricken conditions
In 1846 wife died after a long illness

8. . . . continued
Died in Baltimore after he was found in a drunken stupor
Died a poor man

9. Poe’s Work Known for: Tales of mystery and terror stories
Introducing the modern detective story

10. Just a Few Titles Poems: Short Stories The Tell-Tale Heart The Raven
The Cask of Amontillado
The Black Cat,
The Pit and The Pendulum
Poems:
The Raven
Annabel Lee
To Helen
Lenore

11. Addiction
Sometimes strange special effects have been linked to his addiction to opium
Addiction not uncommon in the 1800’s, because of frequent use of laudanum, an opium based medicine, to treat headaches and stomach pains

12. Allusion Reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event
Best sources are literature, history, Greek myth, and the Bible
Serves to explain or clarify or enhance whatever subject

13. Gothic Elements
supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the action
High emotion, sentimentalism, but also pronounced anger, surprise, and especially terror
use of words indicating fear, mystery, etc.: apparition, devil, ghost, haunted, terror, fright, fainting

14. Symbol Something that is itself and yet also represents something else
Universal symbols embody universally recognizable meanings
Invested symbols are given symbolic meaning by the way an author uses them in a literary work

15. You will identify how Poe uses allusion, gothic elements, and symbols in “The Pit and the Pendulum.”