...“I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity” (Poe). Edgar Allan Poe stated this in a letter to one of his admirers, referring to his depression and alcoholism. He was an American editor, writer, and literary critic. Poe was famous for his horror and mystery stories, but he had faced multiple tragedies within his family. Some of his popular works are The Raven, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Fall of The House of Usher. These stories tell of tragedies of madness that end in a death or an emotional problem. Poe died on October 7 in 1849 in Maryland, but the cause of his death is still disputed. The course of his life and the tales that he wrote have multiple similarities. Edgar Allan Poe’s personal life is reflected within his stories. To begin, Edgar Allan Poe’s own depression is shown in The Raven. At the end of the poem, the narrator says, “And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor / Shall be lifted—nevermore!” (The Raven 186). Poe had lost his mother, foster mother, brother, and wife to tuberculosis. These losses had sent him into a depression that could not be lifted. He had been taken in by the Allans when he was three after his parents died. Allan...
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...Edgar Allen Poe’s notorious drug and alcohol abuse combined with his dysfunctional and unsupportive family played a significant role in the development of Poe’s unique writing styles and topics. Edgar Allen Poe was born January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother, Elizabeth Arnold Poe was a British actress. His father, David Poe Jr. was an actor from Baltimore. Edgar Allen Poe had two other siblings, a brother named William and a sister named Rosalie. Poe did not have a close relationship with his parents; they were a part of his life for a short amount of time. His father abandoned his wife and children, a few years later Elizabeth contracted tuberculosis. (“Edgar Allan Poe.” Poetry Foundation.) She was the first of Poe’s many...
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...The Poe(t) Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809 as Edgar Poe. He was the second son of David and Elizabeth Arnold Poe, both whom were actors. In 1810, shortly after Poe’s birth his father deserted the family. The subsequent death of his twenty-four year old mother on December 8, 1811 in Richmond, Virginia, left Poe an orphan at the young age of three. After his mother’s death, John, a strict unemotional tobacco merchant, and Frances Allan, a weak woman due to health problems, took in Poe; his paternal grandparents took in his brother William Henry; and foster parents cared for his sister Rosalie. Poe was educated with the Allan’s aid, in private academies, excelling in Latin, in writing verse, and declamation. However, despite his education, he was looked down upon and regarded as an outsider by the upper class of Richmond’s society; perhaps because the Allan’s never legally adopted Poe. Also, the culture of Richmond during Poe’s young adulthood did not regard actors in a high manner. This could have attributed to his reputation since his biological parents were actors. The loss of his mother at an early age definitely affected Poe. “The angels, whispering to one another, Can find, among their burning terms of love, None so devotional as that of ‘Mother’” Poe wrote that in To My Mother. In Tamerlane, he not only wrote about his father, but he wrote about his mother as well; he had more respect for his mother than he did for his father. This respect can be found in...
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...2013 Edgar Allan Poe’s life from beginning to end was shrouded in turmoil and touched with mystery. He was a curious man in life that left much mystery in the wake of his passing. Several theories exist but there is no absolute answer to Poe’s untimely death. He was born January 19, 1908 in Boston, Massachusetts, orphaned at the age of three when his mother passed away and then “went to live with John and Frances Allan, a successful tobacco merchant and his wife, in Richmond, Virginia.” (“Edgar,” 2013, p. 2) He attended the University of Virginia until financial issues forced him to move home. He also attended West Point but was kicked out after only a year for poor management of his obligations. In 1836 Poe married his young cousin, Virginia, when she was age 13. He worked for a few magazines earning himself a reputation as a ferocious critic by writing venomous reviews of his peers. In his writing career he became known as the “Father of the Detective story” forever changing the face of the genre. One of his works, “The Raven,” is one of the best known poems in American Literature. His adored Virginia passed away in 1847 and Poe became overwhelmed with grief. He continued to work but suffered from poor health and struggled fiscally. There has been much debate on how Poe’s final days were spent. Some say he drank himself to death while other theories suggest carbon monoxide poisoning, epilepsy and rabies but no one really knows for sure. The story of Poe’s death...
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...How did Edgar Allan Poe’s life Affect his writing? Edgar Allan Poe”’s Life was tough, and so seemed his writing. His writing looked to be dark and horrific. Edgar Allan Poe’s life had important things such as The love of his life, Alcohol, and The deaths he had to deal with. Edgar had a very tough life, and so seemed his theme of stories he made. To begin with, The deaths. Edgar Allan Poe had to face with the death of his loved ones too much. He had to deal with his birth parents first. Then, he faced with his foster parents dying. Then he had to watch his wife (Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe) die. He later had died on October 7th, 1849. Furthermore, Edgar’s love of his life Virginia was the love of his life and would alway be. The couple were...
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...com/cs/morepeople/a/bls_edgar_allen.htm), this quote is one of many Poe’s famous sayings. He was known as the inventor of the modern detective story and innovator of the science fiction genre. Although, many people know him because of his tales of horror as well as his haunting lyric poetry there is a whole other side to him other than a morbid, mysterious creature lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries. His childhood was very tragic and his adult life full of sorrow. This death though, was something to for everyone to think about. Poe, I believe is one of the most unique characters in the literary world. Edgar Poe (his original name), was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston. Within three years of his birth, both of Poe’s parents had died. His two siblings, Henry and Rosalie, moved away to live with other families. Poe, however, went to live with a wealthy tobacco merchant, Mr. John Allan, (hence, acquiring the middle name Allan). Poe had always dreamed since his childhood to be a writer, but, Mr. Allan wanted him to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman. Because of Poe’s immense interest in poetry, by the time he was thirteen, he had acquired enough poetry to make a book. In 1826, Poe left for the University of Virginia. While excelling in his classes he had also accumulated a considerable amount of debt. Because of Poe’s debt, he had taken up to gambling to pay off his debts. Since gambling had not solved any of Poe’s problems, he dropped out of school. Furious and humiliated...
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...Conspiracy Theory Research Paper: Was Edgar Allan Poe Murderer? Have you ever wondered how the gruesomely poetic Edgar Allan Poe died? Was he in fact murdered or driven mad by sickness? There are many conspiracies leading up to his demise. Due to the lack of medical research and supplies back in the 1800’s it was hard to get an accurate medical examination of his body after his passing. He was also buried two days after his death, furthermore making it more arduous to examine his newly deceased corpse. Edgar Allan Poe was a famous ominous poet from the early 1800’s. He was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, MA. Poe was gloriously known for his short stories on mystery and murder. He was an orphan by the age of two and his new family never...
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...“And darkness and decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.” These dark words could only come from one cimmerian mind: Edgar Allan Poe’s. His turbulent life impacted his writing in many ways, such as his alcoholism, all the death, and his crippling depression. These examples are seen throughout his writings. First off, the alcoholism. Poe wasted all his money on drink. Many of his characters in his stories were alcoholists. In the Black Cat, the main character abuses his animals in his intoxicated state. In the Cask of Amontillado, Fortunato the drunken fool is walled up. Poe was often drunk when alone. Also, Poe’s life was filled with death. It seemed to follow him everywhere he went. His mother and father died when he was...
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...Presence of Poe Edgar Allan Poe is regarded as one of the great American writers in history. He had a unique way to present his stories, his imagination stretched into the darkest corners of his mind. One can say his characters were developed from personal experiences in his life. His use of writing techniques was ingenious and unsurpassed. These are just a few reasons why he is a permanent reminder whenever horror stories come to mind. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. His parents were David and Elizabeth Poe. He was one of three children including his brother Henry and his sister Rosalie. His mother separated from his father when he was about two years of age and took her children with her. She died about a year later, when he was two years of age. He was separated from his siblings and was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan; this is where his name became Edgar Allan Poe. John Allan was a successful merchant, so Poe grew up in good surroundings and attended excellent schools. When he was six, he was sent to school in England and attended for five years. He then returned to the United States to continue his studies. At seventeen, Poe went to the University of Virginia but dropped out less than a year later because he could not support himself. John Allan shunned him. He enlisted in the Army because he had no money and nowhere to go at the age of eighteen. He did reasonably well attaining, the rank of sergeant-major, and got accepted to...
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...“Was the death of Edgar Allan Poe really an accident?” Edgar Allan Poe death on October 7, 1949 was a strange and surprising event to everyone who knew and loved him. The cause of Poe’s death remains a mystery even now. While there are many reasonable facts and theories surrounding Poe’s unusual death, such as, heavy metal poisoning, further investigation regarding Poe’s enemies needs to happen in order for the mystery to be solved. There are many things that are known about the events surrounding Poe’s shocking decline in health and eventually his demise. For example, Poe was told by his fiance Elmira Shelton that he looked ill about a day before his departure for Philadelphia. So, Poe visited his doctor and friend, John Carter who recommended that he stay home and rest (D). During many times before his decline in health Poe suffered from recurrent depression, drug and alcohol abuse (A). A few days after his departure he was found “semi-conscious and was taken to a nearby...
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...Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe and “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner like a fine silk thread, supporting the theme of death in each. In the short story, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, the cause of death is never obviously revealed but lightly hinted upon Emily as the cause. “The Cask of Amontillado,” a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, the cause of death is revealed but no one knew the cause of Fortunato’s disappearance. These stories contain many differences as well as similarities ranging from imagery, symbolism, theme, and tone. The recognizable commonality of the two is the theme of death. Each of these stories portrays death, or murder, as a result of vengeance, revenge and betrayal. “The Cask of Amontillado” deals with the death of Fortunato and “A Rose for Emily” deals with the death of Homer and Emily. William Faulkner never admits that Emily is the cause of Homer’s death but gives the audience clues that suggest Emily was indeed responsible. Emily’s death seemed to be of natural causes (Faulkner, 1931, p 531). Edgar Allan Poe, in “The Cask of Amontillado” tells the audience of Montresor’s plot of revenge and murder of Fortunato. Betrayal and revenge are obvious throughout both stories. In “A Rose for Emily,” Emily first betrayed Homer after he did not take her for his wife after the whole town saw the two of them together. In “The Cask of Amontillado” betrayal is shown in Montresor’s actions, which result in Fortunato’s death. In both stories, death is caused...
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...Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer and poet, known mostly for his stories containing dark imagery, and involving mystery and horror, and also for his troubled life. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a film, directed by Henry Selick and produced by the famed Tim Burton, that follows Jack Skellington, the "Pumpkin King" of Halloween Town, who has grown weary of doing the same things to celebrate Halloween every year. When stumbling upon a door leading to Christmas Town, Jack decides to celebrate his own Christmas holiday, but with eventual and terrible consequences. Now, even though Poe and The Nightmare Before Christmas have more than 100 years separating them, one can still see several similarities between what Poe had written and what...
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...The Life of Edgar Allan Poe Does grief benefit writers? The idea is that sadness, despair, and heartache may be channeled and applied for creativity as emotional inspiration. A well known example is Edgar Allan Poe, who suffered from poverty, was orphaned before age three, and fought alcoholism during most of his life. After meeting and falling in love with his cousin, Virginia, Poe was not aware he’d have to endure the pain of losing her like so many of his loved ones before. He once stated, "The death of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world." (citation?) If it had not been for the tragic illness and death of Virginia, Poes' work may not have been as good or memorable, and we may not have gained some of...
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...Borough Of Manhattan Community College Edgar Allan Poe: Recurring Theme By Eric Torres Professor J. Carlacio ENG 201 - 071 14 March 2014 Edgar Allan Poe: Recurring Theme Edgar Allan Poe was an inimitable poet in the world of literature. Due to intensely traumatic events that occurred in his personal life, his anxiety led to a strong emphasis on a recurring theme of death particularly a woman not only within his poems. Although the death of a woman was common amongst his work, Poe in fact held women in high regard. There were a number of women present in his life that nurtured and comforted him, but the few he chose to acknowledge and genuinely care for coincidentally would die which was a major part why Poe often went through severe episodes of depression. Poe’s depression led him to a dark emotional state and caused a constant playback of death within his mind. Mourning many years in his life his love for women and experience with death combined to form a curiosity for the unknown and he transitioned this madness into his work. Poe was deeply in love with his wife Virginia. They married each other in the year 1836. She had passed in result of what was then known as consumption to what is now known as Tuberculosis in the year 1847. Within the course of those eleven years Virginia’s presence in his life played an important role in shaping his literary work. From the first time they had met to even after her death, she inspired Poe indefinitely. In Annabel Lee Poe...
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...EDGAR ALLAN POE Synopsis Born January 19, 1809, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. American short-story writer, poet, critic, and Editor Edgar Allan Poe's tales of mystery and horror initiated the modern detective story, and the atmosphere in his tales of horror is unrivaled in American fiction. His The Raven (1845) numbers among the best-known poems in national literature. Early Life With his short stories and poems, Edgar Allan Poe captured the imagination and interest of readers around the world. His creative talents led to the beginning of different literary genres, earning him the nickname "Father of the Detective Story" among other distinctions. His life, however, has become a bit of mystery itself. And the lines between fact and fiction have been blurred substantially since his death. The son of actors, Poe never really knew his parents. His father left the family early on, and his mother passed away when he was only three. Separated from his siblings, Poe went to live with John and Frances Allan, a successful tobacco merchant and his wife, in Richmond, Virginia. He and Frances seemed to form a bond, but he never quite meshed with John. Preferring poetry over profits, Poe reportedly wrote poems on the back of some of Allan's business papers. Money was also an issue between Poe and John Allan. When Poe went to the University of Virginia in 1826, he didn't receive enough funds from Allan to cover all his costs. Poe turned to gambling to cover the difference, but ended up in...
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