Edgar Allan Poe
Caden Heinert
Who was Edgar Allan Poe?
Edgar Allan Poe was a famous American author who wrote many books and poems. He was born into a family of traveling actors. The Poe family was poor.
What was his Childhood Like?
Edgar was the 2nd of 3 children in his family. His father left the family early in Edgar's life, and later on Edgar's mother died at the age of 24 from TB when he was 3 years old. He went into foster care because his parents were both gone. This is where he gained the name Allan. He went to University of Virginia, but soon had to leave because his foster father didn't give him enough money to attend.
How Big of a Part of his Life was Filled with Death?
Edgar Allan Poe's whole life was filled with death and sickness. It began when his mom died from TB at the age of 24, and carried on until his wife died from TB at age 24 also. Because of both of their deaths, Edgar assumed that he was the carrier of the disease which strongly displeased him.
When did He Publish his First Written Work?
Edgar published his first poem, "Tamerlane" when he was 18.
What was his most significant work?
Poe was well know and still is for his famous poem, "The Raven" where a mysterious talking raven follows the journey of a man who slowly falls into madness. Edgar made lots of money for this work. The poem must have been of some value to him because a raven is displayed on his gravestone.
What Themes from his life are most Evident in his work?
Edgar was constantly in the face of death. This is the believed reason he wrote dark, mysterious, and creepy books. This is evident in "The Raven", because a raven is a mysterious bird which is watching a crazy killer constantly.
Why was his death a Mystery?
His death was a mystery because he was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore. He was then taken to a hospital where he wasn't ever coherent enough to explain his situation. He died of October 7, 1849.
What was his Impact on the World?
Edgar Allan Poe was acknowledged as the innovator, or creator if you will, of the modern mystery genre. He is known for the dread and terror in his stories.
What genre did he Write?
Edgar's many writings fall in a Gothic genre. Many of his stories are also classified as mystery novels. He didn't write for any other genres.