EDGAR ALLEN POE

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(No Transcript)
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EDGAR ALLEN POE

• A biography
• (a story about a persons life written by another
  person)

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Master of Horror andFather of the Detective
Story

• Edgar Poe was born in Boston on January 19th,
  1809.
• His parents, both actors, had many problems of
  their own.
• His father, an alcoholic, abandoned the family
  when Edgar was still a toddler, leaving his mom,
  who was dying of tuberculosis, pregnant with a
  third child.

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The Early Years

• TB (tuberculosis) is a disease that attacks the
  lungs. It is contagious and can be fatal.
• When Edgar was 3, his beloved mother died of TB.

• Mr. and Mrs. Allan of Richmond, Virginia, friends
  of the Poes, adopted Edgar.
• While Mrs. Allan had always longed for a child,
  Mr. Allan saw Edgar as a nuisance or a bother.

Poe entered college at the University of
Charlottesville. Since Mr. Allan did not provide
Poe with enough money, Poe began to gamble for
more. He quickly fell into debt and was sent
home.
http//www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/poe_in_richmond
.html
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Poes Military Career
When Poe returned home, Mrs. Allan gave him money
she had saved, and he used it to get to Boston,
which was the place for those who dreamed of
becoming writers.
Poes money ran out and he was forced to enlist
in the army for income.
Military officers recommended that Poe be
transferred to West Point, an elite military
academy. Once at West Point, he went into debt,
could not pay back the money he owed, broke rules
and was dismissed from the academy.
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Poes Family and Marriage
After leaving West Point, Edgar moved in with his
Aunt Clemm, his natural fathers sister. His
older brother lived there too, but soon died of
TB. Poe was working for the editor of a magazine
and things were looking up.

• While in the army, Poes adopted mom died. Mr.
  Allan did notify him, but not in time to attend
  the funeral.

His Aunt Maria even gave permission to Edgar to
marry her daughter, his cousin, Virginia. She
was just 14 at the time. Poe was about 26.
http//knowingpoe.thinkport.org/person/amity.asp
http//www.eapoe.org/balt/poehse.htm
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Edgars Life downhill, no brakes!
WOE is POE!
Edgars drinking problem caused him to lose his
job and his little family wandered around, going
from city to city. He lost every job he had
because of his drinking and gambling habits.
Poes worst turn came when his beloved Virginia
died a long, painful death. The same dreaded
disease (TB) that killed his mother and brother
also took the life of his wife.
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Life after Virginias Death
Virginias death nearly killed Poe. He and
Virginia had been very happy together and were
very much in love. Friends noticed a huge change
in Poe after Virginias death deep depression,
thoughts of suicide, his drinking worsened, and
many suspected drug abuse. It was during this
time, however, that much of his best work was
written!
http//knowingpoe.thinkport.org/person/amity.asp
http//www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/about/poe
cottage.html
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Poes Fame
During his lifetime, writing did not make Poe a
rich man. In fact, he lived most of his life as
a very poor man struggling to make ends meet.
It is interesting to mention that Poe was not
given much attention or respect as a writer at
all until after his death.
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Poes DEATH
Poe was found unconscious on the steps of an
abandoned hotel in the middle of the slums of
Boston on October 3. 1849. Apparently he had
drank and drugged himself into a deadly stupor.
He never regained consciousness. He died at the
age of 40 on October 7, 1849.
Read about his death theories!
http//www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/death_myths.htm
l
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Some of Poes Work

• The Fall of the House of Usher
• The Tell Tale Heart
• The Black Cat
• Annabel Lee
• The Raven
• The Businessman
• The Pit and The Pendulum

http//www.poemuseum.org/selected_works/red_death.
html
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See a timeline of Poes life
http//www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/timeline.html
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Take the online quiz!
http//www.poemuseum.org/educational_resources/for
_students.html