1. Edgar Allen Poe 1809-1849

2. Beginnings Born in Boston to traveling actors @2 father abandoned; mother died Raised by John Allan = a wealthy tobacco merchant Shaky relationship Never formally adopted as heir

3. Poe as a Young Adult Dropped out of U of VA –substantial debt (gambling) Army 2 years @20 worked as editor of magazine Married his 13 year old cousin To keep her from being split from family Never consummated relationship, loved her in a “brotherly” way

4. Began writing for a magazine Became emotionally unstable/bouts of drunkenness?? (couldn’t tolerate alcohol, lesion on brain = opium to control pain) Never happy, always looking to future Wife died @24; he was then with many women, engaged twice Found dead in Baltimore, unconscious on sidewalk

5. Literary Achievements Poe’s literary criticism led to theory of Romantic litr. Gave short story its form (w/Hawthorne) Invented the detective story Stories of detection and horror Explores the dark side of our inner experience; imagination used to explore the irrational world of human mind

6. Literary Achievements Imprt. Amr. Poet = unreal atmosphere = musical effects Favorite/most worthy subject = death of beautiful woman Main theme = dissolution of personality = man works against his best interests

7. Literary Devices Alliteration (nearly napping) Internal Rhyme Assonance (flung the shutter) Consonance (truly your forgiveness)