...For most readers, the name of Edgar Allan Poe has become a byword for horror and fear. Moreover, the images and motifs created by the novelist had an immense influence on the following generations and works of other authors, so that they even became immersed into the popular culture. Poe’s memorable images and quotes became an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage, giving inspiration to the horror movie script writers and novelists. As a result, many fans of the horror genre don’t even rate Poe’s contribution at its true value, taking his efforts for granted. For nearly two centuries so far, Poe has been providing realistic images of morbidity, fear and the horror of life to everyone who is interested in the genre or makes parallels between fiction and certain moments in life. The biography of Edgar Allan Poe is full of mystery which can be explained by his own passion for exaggeration and fantasies, which confused biographers who were trying to learn about his life from his works or his own words. However, most biographers agree that Poe hardly knew his parents and when biographers claim that he was a spoiled child, they mean the family who adopted Edgar. Edgar was born in a family of young actors. His father was an alcohol addict, whose addiction went so far that he even was drunk on the stage. Once he left his wife and kids and nobody saw him ever again. Edgar’s mother fell ill and died when Poe was only a child. That’s how Edgar was adopted by the Allens, the family...
Words: 942 - Pages: 4
...Kayla Delury Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe’s writing is known throughout the world. He was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. Poe had an awful childhood. His Dad, David Poe, abandoned the family soon after Poe was born. His Mom, Eliza Poe, died two years later because of tuberculosis. After his mother’s death, his infant sister and brother were separated. His brother was sent to live with their biological grandparents. Poe moved to Richmond, Virginia to live with John and Fannie Allan; his sister was taken in by another family in Richmond. Poe and John Allan’s relationship suffered greatly making Poe having to make some hard decisions for his future. Poe attended the University of Virginia in 1926. He started gambling and became in debt. However, John Allen refused to pay leading Poe to withdraw from the University. Poe’s best known works include such masterpieces as Annabel Lee, The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Mask of the Red Death, The Murders of the Rue Morgue, and many others. Each and every one of these titles, share one common trait that is more than obvious, they all deal with death. When these titles of the books take over the attention, it is only normal that the main part of Poe’s work should see to be known as nightmares. Poe married Virginia Clemm, his thirteen year old cousin in, 1936. When Virginia died in 1947, Poe became depressed and lost his motivation in writing. In 1849, Poe became engaged to marry the widowed Sarah...
Words: 347 - Pages: 2
...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...
Words: 1081 - Pages: 5
...Final Poe Essay Edgar Allan Poe is one of the best, and unusual horror story writers, but does his conscious lead to his creepy ambition? It seems like he would write like any other horror story writers that just write about any ideas that they can think of or anything that sound like it could make a good story, but Edgar Allan Poe shows his struggles, tragedies, and hardships that he portrays through his stories and poems, and might just seem obscure to us. Edgar Allan Poe is a manic depressive lunatic, or a literary genius. Edgar Allan Poe shows that he is more of a manic depressive lunatic than a literary genius because of how most of his stories involve something scary, and how the protagonist ends up doing really outrageous things. Also the way that he writes his stories and what he makes the protagonist do in his stories, and poems. Edgar Allan Poe incorporates most of his experience, and what he went through than the literary elements, and structure that he uses. In “The Black Cat” it states, “I took from my waistcoat-pocket a pen-knife, opened it, grasped the poor beast by the throat, and deliberately cut one of its eyes from the socket! I blush, I burn, I shudder, while I pen the damnable atrocity.” This shows that all the hardships he went through played a big role in how he wrote his stories. Edgar Allan Poe had many reasons why his stories and poems turned out the way that they did. Another issue that he wrote about in his poems, and stories is...
Words: 640 - Pages: 3
...Personally, I liked the story The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe because if grasped my attention more then Everyday Use by Alice Walker. In this story the exposition would be during the Carnival in Italy when Montresor runs into Fortunato and offers to share a bottle of Amontillado wine. Montresor offers to share the Amontillado wine because he is seeking revenge against Fortunato and Fortunato seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that he is Montresor’s enemy. The Rising action of the Cask of Amontillado is when Montresor brings Fortunato to his catacombs to taste his Amontillado. During this time Fortunato get a little big intoxicated and not becomes unaware what is happening around him. Montresor claims that he bought a large barrel of Amontillado and doubts if the wine is legit or not. The climax of the story is when Montresor chains Fortunato to the wall of the catacombs and Montresor then ignores the screams of Fortunato for mercy. The falling action of the story is when Fortunato stops screaming, and Montresor only hears the jingling of the bells on his costume when he throws his torch the catacombs. Montresor also is finishing sealing the wall he is making in front Fortunato, so one finds him. The resolution of the Cask of Amontillado is this phrase “In pace requiescat,” (Literature, Page 19) which leads us to believe that Montresor succeeded in his revenge and murder. I picked this piece because it really is suspenseful, and that is what kept my attention...
Words: 340 - Pages: 2
...For most readers, the name of Edgar Allan Poe has become a byword for horror and fear. Moreover, the images and motifs created by the novelist had an immense influence on the following generations and works of other authors, so that they even became immersed into the popular culture. Poe’s memorable images and quotes became an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage, giving inspiration to the horror movie script writers and novelists. As a result, many fans of the horror genre don’t even rate Poe’s contribution at its true value, taking his efforts for granted. For nearly two centuries so far, Poe has been providing realistic images of morbidity, fear and the horror of life to everyone who is interested in the genre or makes parallels between fiction and certain moments in life. The biography of Edgar Allan Poe is full of mystery which can be explained by his own passion for exaggeration and fantasies, which confused biographers who were trying to learn about his life from his works or his own words. However, most biographers agree that Poe hardly knew his parents and when biographers claim that he was a spoiled child, they mean the family who adopted Edgar. Edgar was born in a family of young actors. His father was an alcohol addict, whose addiction went so far that he even was drunk on the stage. Once he left his wife and kids and nobody saw him ever again. Edgar’s mother fell ill and died when Poe was only a child. That’s how Edgar was adopted by the Allens, the family...
Words: 942 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 1601 - Pages: 7
...Craig Callahan Lillie Munford English 112 25 April 2011 Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19th, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His father David Poe Jr. died in 1810 and his mother Elizabeth Hopkins Poe died in 1811, leaving three children. Edgar was taken into a home of a successful wealthy Richmond merchant named John Allan and the remaining children were cared for by others. Edgar had a brother named William who died at a very young age and a sister named Rosalie who became later insane. In 1815 Edgar was brought up partly in England where he attended Manor School at Stoke Newington. He learned Latin and French, as well as math and history. He later returned to school in America and continued his studies. In 1826 Edgar attended the University of Virginia, but he soon was expelled for not paying his gambling debts. Edgar had no money, no job skills, and had been shunned by John Allan. In 1827 Edgar went to Boston and joined the U.S. Army as a common soldier under the assumed name, Edgar A. Perry. He did reasonably well in the Army and attained the rank of sergeant major. In 1831, Edgar went to New York City where he had some of his poetry published. He submitted stories to a number of magazines and they were all rejected. Edgar had no friends, no job, and was in financial trouble. He sent a letter to John Allan begging for help but none came. In 1834 John Allan died and did not mention Edgar in his will. In 1835 he lived with his father’s sister...
Words: 554 - Pages: 3
...Name: Course: Tutor: Date Introduction Various authors write various books to convince their readers of the goodness or badness of the various situations on the lives of these authors. Thus, the literal styles used in the books tend to draw the attention of readers while at the same time playing with their emotions. As if for instance, Edgar Allan Poe wrote a story entitled ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ to convince the readers of the book on his sanity based on the murder activity in his life. Based on Edgar’s book, this paper analyses the story in trying to establish the psychological problem of the narrator. Analysis of various incidences in the story The narrator speaks of murdering an old man and he uses this as an evidence of sanity. This is thus a crime and it reveals that he has monomania. From the story, it is clear that the murdered old man did not have any quarrels or any form of clashes with the author but still the author just chose to murder him. From the analysis of the story, there is nowhere in the book that the author talks ill of the old man. Instead, he praises him stating that he does not know what made him kill the man (Harper, 2013). From the story, the author loved the old man and he never wronged anyone, not even the person who killed him. Despite the old man having various treasures such as gold and other objects, the killer, that is, the author, never had an ill will against his possessions that could have made him kill the man to inherit...
Words: 1476 - Pages: 6
...“Lord, help my poor soul.” These were the last words uttered by Edgar Allen Poe on his deathbed in 1849. Considered on of the most prominent authors of the century, Poe was the inventor of the modern detective story, and was at the forefront of Gothic genre. His life was a series of ups and downs, many caused by his attempt to make writing his first and only job. January 19th, 1809 Edgar Allan Poe was born to two prominent actors named Eliza and David Poe. By the age of three both his parents had passed away, and Edgar was sent to live with John and Frances Valentine Allan who lived in Richmond, Virginia. While John wanted him to follow in his footsteps of running a tobacco business Poe was more interested in writing, especially poetry. In...
Words: 1051 - Pages: 5
...Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, MA and died on October 7, 1849 in Baltimore, MD. He led a life of deep heartache. He was orphaned as a child only a year after he was born, adopted by his stoic non-supportive father figure John Allan, a scottish tobacco exporter and dry-goods merchant. He gave Edgar constant grief over debt and educational pricing, but Poe took the morbid dark and secret reaches of the human psyche and turned it into beautifully renowned pieces of literature. During his early years Edgar observed John Allan in his work which gave him “an understanding of the value of information and that literature was a commodity produced by sale in the capitalist marketplace.” (Felicia Burdescu, Michaela Prioteasa, Shaping...
Words: 866 - Pages: 4
...nature. Humans are very sensitive and emotional creatures. With that said, humans are sensitive, jealousy is common -and revenge is a feeling that comes with it. Revenge is something done out of spite, and love. Poe ties these ideas into his stories. The idea of revenge is a traveling topic through his short stories. “Hop-Frog” and “The Cask of Amontillado” both demonstrate similar characteristics of Dark Romanticism because in both stories the main characters are fueled by their emotions. In both short stories, the protagonists feel insulted in some way and seek revenge due to their raging emotion. “At last without uttering a syllable, he pushed her violently from him, and threw the contents of the brimming goblet in her face” (Poe, Hop-frog 4). The king jokingly pushes Trippetta and throws her a goblet of wine. The King is rude to Hop-Frog which makes him feel the need to get revenge on the king. This shows Dark Romanticism because evil emotions overwhelm the king and makes him do death- dealing actions. Similarly, in the story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, instead of talking things out with Fortunato, the narrator attempts to kill, seeking his revenge. “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (Poe, Amontillado 1). Montresor was offended by Fortunato's “joke” and instead of talking things out with Fortunato and expressing how he felt at that very moment, like in “Hop-Frog”, the protagonist went straight for...
Words: 910 - Pages: 4
...emotionally distant from others. In the poem “Alone”, Edgar Allan Poe most directly relates alone with being emotionally distant and describes alone in terms of not being able to experiences things as others do, most significantly during his childhood. Poe looks back upon his childhood, and with his dark and disturbing writing style he creates the image of fear and loneliness that he felt as a child within the reader. Poe establishes in “Alone” that the true definition of alone is to be emotionally distant from the world. This idea comes from his childhood influences, his search for the unexplainable and his philosophy...
Words: 1722 - Pages: 7
...By Or An Animal You're Scared Of ,Well I Have By Watching A Scary Movie .Egdar Allan Poie Scared People By Him Always Writting Weird And Sad Stories . In This Essay I Will Discuss Poe Life And How Did It Affect His Personal Life Through His Year He Lived. Edgar Allan Poe Was Born In Richmond , Virgina. To The Parents Of Elizabeth Poe And David Poe.When Edgar Was Three Years Old His Dad Left Him & Elizabeth. After Edgar Mom Dies Of TB When She Was 24 Yrs Old . Later France And John Adopted Him , Though John Never Liked Him. He Grew Up With Them , When He Was 17 Years Old He Attended The University Of Virgina . Earm Money By Gambling. John refused To Help His Foster Son. Later He Ran to Boston In 1827 And Published A Poem But Didn' t get Attention So He Joined The Army , But Dislike It And Ask His Fosterdad For Help . John Agreed to Help Him To To A US Military Academy He Waited For A Response To Be Admitted ,Threrefore He Published Another Book And Recieve As A Writter. After He Learned That John Had Remarried A Woman That Was Young Enough To Have Children . So Poe Admissed Himself From West Point .In 1835 He Moved With His Aunt Marie Poe Clemm In Maryland. Married Her Cousin Virgina Thought It Was An Odd Marriage Because Virgina Was 13 Yrs Old And He Was 27 Yrs Old When They Got Married .Poe Helped HIs Family By Working As An Editor At Various Magazines . Virgina Died On...
Words: 281 - Pages: 2
...Unit 2 Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) [pic] The American Romanticism I. What is Romanticism Originated in the second half of the 18th century, romanticism was a key movement in the Counter-Enlightenment, a reaction against the Age of Enlightenment. Romanticism emphasized intuition, imagination, and feeling, to a point that has led to some Romantic thinkers being accused of irrationalism. Romanticism focuses on Nature; a place free from society's judgement and restrictions. Romanticism blossomed after the age of Rationalism, a time that focused on handwork and scientific reasoning. Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper, and those of the late period contain Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe. II.Features of American romanticism Edgar Allen Poe(1809 - 1849) the most controversial and most misunderstood literary figure. a Bohemian（吉普赛人）, depraved（堕落） and demonic（恶魔的）, a villain（恶棍） with no virtue at all. Mark Twain declared his prose to be unreadable. But Eliot proclaimed him a critic of the first rank. He enjoyed respect and welcome greatly in Europe. He is the father of psychoanalytic criticism. In deed, Poe places the subconscious condition of the mind under investigation and probes beneath the surface of normal existence. What interests him most is the deep abyss of the unconsciousand subconscious mental activity of the people, His theories for the short story and poetry are remarkable...
Words: 3130 - Pages: 13
