1. Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1849

2. Edgar Allan Poe: Background Born in Boston Massachusetts 2 nd of three children Mother: Elizabeth Arnold Actress Father: David Poe Jr. Actor Father deserted family when Poe was 1 year old Poe’s mother died when he was 2 years old Separated from his brother and sister, Poe was forced to live John and Frances Allan They renamed him “Edgar Allan”

3. Edgar Allan Poe: Background 1815: Accompanied his family to England Collapse of London tobacco market Hostility between Poe and his foster father 1826: Good student Wrote poetry on the side Debt=drinking=gambling Kicked out of school and out of his home

4. Moved to Baltimore and reconnected with his brother 1827: Changed his name to avoid creditors 1827: Joined the army 1829: Tamerlane and Other Poems” 1829: Worked on Poems 1830: Accepted to West Point- became known for his friendliness and skills in math and French 1830: Poe realized he would not receive heir to Allans’ fortune and rebelled Expelled from West Point Home in Baltimore (1831-1835)

5. Poe’s mature career (21-40) was spent in 4 literary centers: Baltimore Richmond Philadelphia New York Lived in poverty (1832) FIRST STORY PUBLISHED: Metzengerstein in Philadelphia Saturday Courier After 1832, placed stories and poems in the Baltimore Saturday Visiter Poe formed many good relationships after 1835, but ruined most of them & future jobs due to his excessive drinking 1836: Poe secretly married his 13 year old cousin, Virginia Clemm Poe was 27 Poe lived with Virginia and her mother

6. Literary Career Tales Slavery and race remain highly problematical – Sometimes resorted to racial stereotypes – Conveyed fears of black violence – Silent on political debate of slavery Most killers of his tales are white men 1841: co-editor, writing articles on the art and science of code- breaking “The Murders of the Rue Morgue” critics regard as the earliest example of detective fiction 1845: Most successful year “Man of genius” “The Raven” appeared in American Review and NY’s Evening Mirror Lectured other poets Hoped to have his own magazine

7. Common words found in reviews Suspenseful Death “Effect” Revenge Evil Dark and Gloomy Dramatic Irony Thrilling Madness

8. Literary Feuds 1847: Virginia dies of tuberculosis Maintained commitment to writing 1849: Poe was found senseless near a polling place on Election Day Died in a hospital “of congestion of the brain” More drinking Last Years

9. Poe’s Writings Consists of his criticism-aspired to be a powerful critic and influence on American Literature Gothic style Importance of beauty Strongly believed poems should be short enough to read in one sitting Understood his audience-the fascination with the new and short-lived, its confusion + shock value Issues: the place of irrationality, violence; repression in human consciousness; the absolutely terrifying dimensions of one’s own mind

10. Edgar Allan Poe The pursuit of the beautiful in works of art motivated Poe’s writing to the very end

11. Always wanted to write about the criminal, not the artist “Nothing is more beautiful than the death of a beautiful woman”

12. Works Tales "The Black Cat"The Black Cat "The Cask of Amontillado"The Cask of Amontillado "A Descent into the Maelström"A Descent into the Maelström "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar"The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar "The Fall of the House of Usher"The Fall of the House of Usher "The Gold-Bug"The Gold-Bug "Hop-Frog"Hop-Frog "Ligeia"Ligeia "The Masque of the Red Death"The Masque of the Red Death "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"The Murders in the Rue Morgue "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt"The Mystery of Marie Rogêt "The Oval Portrait"The Oval Portrait "The Pit and the Pendulum"The Pit and the Pendulum "The Premature Burial"The Premature Burial "The Purloined Letter"The Purloined Letter "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether"The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether "The Tell-Tale Heart"The Tell-Tale Heart Poetry " Al Aaraaf" Al Aaraaf "Annabel Lee"Annabel Lee "The Bells"The Bells "The City in the Sea"The City in the Sea "The Conqueror Worm"The Conqueror Worm "A Dream Within a Dream"A Dream Within a Dream "Eldorado"Eldorado "Eulalie"Eulalie "The Haunted Palace"The Haunted Palace "To Helen"To Helen "Lenore"Lenore "Tamerlane"Tamerlane "The Raven"The Raven "Ulalume"Ulalume

13. Other Works Politian (1835) – Poe's only play Politian The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838) – Poe's only complete novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket "The Balloon-Hoax" (1844) – A journalistic hoax printed as a true storyThe Balloon-Hoaxhoax "The Philosophy of Composition" (1846) – EssayThe Philosophy of Composition Eureka: A Prose Poem (1848) – Essay Eureka: A Prose Poem "The Poetic Principle" (1848) – EssayThe Poetic Principle "The Light-House" (1849) – Poe's last incomplete workThe Light-House

14. http://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=GKVp4vcAA HE&feature=related http://www.mystudiyo.co m/act123789/go/ http://www.mystudiyo.co m/act123789/go/