1. (1809 – 1849) Lecture Notes *Add to Narrator and Voice
Edgar Allen Poe
(1809 – 1849)
Lecture Notes
*Add to Narrator and Voice

2. Background Born in Boston, Massachusetts
Foster child taken in by the Allen family (Richmond, VA)
Father deserted the family
Mother died before Poe was three years old
Taken in by foster parents
Foster parents begin to like Poe because of his scholarship and athletic ability
However…later, his foster parents became angry at his moodiness and irresponsibility with money

3. Education Attended the University of Virginia
Dropped out with heavy gambling debts
Foster father refused to support him any longer
The two split completely with no further contact
Poe was left penniless

4. Military
Because he was unable to support himself, he enrolled in the U.S. Army as a private
Using the name "Edgar A. Perry", he claimed he was 22 years old, even though he was 18.
He chose to end his five year enlistment early, and revealed his circumstances and real name.
The military told him he could only be discharged if he reconciled with his foster father
Several months passed / pleas to his foster father were ignored

5. Military
His foster mother died in 1829 (Poe had been unaware of her sickness).
Poe visited the day after her burial, wherein his foster father agreed to support Poe's attempt to be discharged in order to receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Poe was finally discharged on April 15, 1829

6. Family Poe married his 13-year old cousin, Virginia Clemm
1837 – moved to New York City and lived with her mother
Poe called her mother (his aunt / mother-in-law) “Muddy”
Drank excessively and was always in need of money

7. Career Poe wrote regularly with increasing success
Had many unusual poems and stories, which were mocked by conservative critics
“The Cask of Amontillado” was published in 1846, during a time when Poe was enduring harsh insults from critics.
This story, which deals with the idea of revenge, might have been Poe’s way of getting even with critics (and possibly his foster father).

8. Tragedy Virginia became ill with tuberculosis, and later died.
Almost 25% of Americans in the 19th century died from this disease.
Poe completely broke down as a result of her death.
Two years later, Poe was found on the streets of Baltimore delirious, "in great distress, and... in need of immediate assistance", according to the man who found him, Joseph W. Walker.
He was taken to the Washington College Hospital, where he died.

9. Tragedy
Poe was never coherent long enough to explain how he came to be in his dire condition, and, oddly, was wearing clothes that were not his own.
Poe is said to have repeatedly called out the name "Reynolds" on the night before his death, though it is unclear to whom he was referring.
Some sources say Poe's final words were "Lord help my poor soul.”
All medical records, including his death certificate, have been lost.
Newspapers at the time reported Poe's death as "congestion of the brain" or "cerebral inflammation"

10. The Debate… Poe’s death brought up many questions soon after…
Was his death a result of alcohol poisoning, or rabies?
There are scholars that believe both stories, and have provided evidence to back up each side.
Other items to consider – tuberculosis?

11. Other texts by Poe “The Tell-Tale Heart” “The Black Cat”
“The Masque of the Red Death”
“The Pit and the Pendulum”
“The Raven”
“Eldorado”
“Annabel Lee”

12. Reading Assignment
Read “Cask of Amontillado” starting on pg