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Edgar Allan Poe
Many consider Edgar Allan Poe's short stories and poetry to have been ahead of their time. Classics such as 'The Raven,' 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' and 'The Cask of Amontillado' still haunt us today.
1,334 Questions
What was the educational background of Edgar Allan Poe?
Edgar Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts to David Poe, Jr. and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe. They lived in Baltimore, Maryland but were traveling actors and happened to be in Boston. Poe's father left the family shortly after Poe's younger sister Rosalie was born. When the troupe was in Richmond, Virginia, Poe's mother died on December 8, 1811. Some say it was tuberculosis, others say it was pneumonia. It isn't clear. Poe's father died a few days later, making Edgar an orphan.
A Richmond couple, John and Frances Allan took Poe into their home and gave him their last name , Allan, as his middle name by having him baptized as Edgar Allan Poe. They were foster parents and never adopted Poe. Poe grew up in Richmond except for five years in Scotland and England. Frances was a loving devoted mother, but John was sometimes pleased with him, but most often not. Mr. Allan gave Poe a good education sending him to various schools depending on where they lived and how old Poe was at each time.
Poe became secretly engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster; however her father did not approve. He intercepted letters that Poe was sending when he was at the University of Virginia. Sarah felt that Poe had forgotten about her and she got engaged to and married another man. Poe was crushed.
Poe and his foster father had a falling out when Poe went to the University of Virginia. Poe ran up $2000 in gambling debts (some say he was cheated). Mr. Allan refused to pay the debts and refused to pay any further tuition so Poe left college and joined the army under the name of Edgar A. Perry. He rose to the rank of Sergeant Major before being discharged.
Poe was influenced to write poetry by the works of British poet Lord Byron. His first complete poem was "O Tempore! O Mores!" which was not published until after his death. While still in the army, in 1827 he published his first book of poems entitled "Tamerlane and other Poems" annonymously using the phrase "By a Bostonian." Poe's foster mother died in 1829. It was a great loss for Poe and he and his foster father reconciled for a bit. Poe left the army but still found it difficult to support himself so he applied for admission to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point. He soon regretted it. He contrived his own court martial by deliberately neglecting duties and was dismissed.
Poe held several jobs editing and writing for several newspapers and magazines while continuing to write and publish poetry. He began writing short stories that were published in some of the magazines. He also wrote essays and critiques.
Later, he moved in with his aunt Maria Clemm and married her daughter, his first cousin, Virginia. She was 13 years old and Poe was 27.
The time in Baltimore was probably when Poe rounded into the author he turned out to be. He would live in many different locations, but always considered Richmond his true home.
So much for "background" on Edgar Allan Poe. This was not intended to be a complete biography.
The Allan family had Poe baptized in the Episcopal church in 1812. John Allan alternately spoiled and aggressively disciplined his foster son part of the American Romantic Movement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe
Poe uses unreliable narration, contradictions in the narrator's story, and the narrator's mental instability to make the reader question the accuracy of events in "The Black Cat." These elements create doubt in the reader's mind about the truth of the narrator's version of events.
What does poe's society think of his claims?
Throughout history, society has been divided in its opinions on Edgar Allan Poe's claims. Some view him as a literary genius whose work explores the complexities of the human psyche, while others criticize him for his dark and macabre themes. Overall, Poe's ability to evoke strong emotions and provoke thought has solidified his reputation as a prominent figure in American literature.
Why do people often imagine Poe as pale and sorrowful?
People often imagine Edgar Allan Poe as pale and sorrowful because of his dark and morose writing style, which frequently explores themes of death, madness, and despair. Poe's own struggles with depression and personal tragedies also contribute to the popular image of him as a melancholic and tormented figure. Additionally, his physical appearance, with sharp features and intense eyes, may have further influenced this perception.
What was Edgar Allan Poe allergic to?
It is widely believed that Edgar Allan Poe was allergic to alcohol. New discoveries have found that a drink of alcohol may have been what killed Poe.
What is an example of verbal irony in The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe?
Verbal irony in which although the narrator loves his wife he brains her with an axe
In what short stories does Edgar Allan Poe use his theme of insanity and mental illness.?
Edgar Allan Poe explores the theme of insanity and mental illness in several of his short stories, including "The Tell-Tale Heart," where the narrator's guilt manifests as auditory hallucinations, and "The Black Cat," in which the protagonist's deteriorating mental state leads to violent impulses and acts of cruelty. Additionally, "The Fall of the House of Usher" delves into themes of madness and deteriorating mental health within the Usher family.
Where does Roderick put Lady Madeline after she dies?
Roderick places Lady Madeline in a vault below the house.
How did Poe's life affect his writing?
Poe's had many very Important people (women) in his life that die from tuberculosis and he would write about them in his stories. When his mom die he was separated from his sister and brother he didn't have a dad, so thy went into different foster home and he was adopted by John Allan and his wife that's were Edger Allan Poe came from. Later his Step mother die from tuberculosis, then later his step dad die he didn't leave anything for him in his will, at age 17 he joined the army. then after the army he went to live with his aunt a couple years she died from tuberculosis and his aunt had a daughter. Her name was Virgina and that was Poe's 2nd counse, she got married to Poe when she was 12 and he was 23 and couple years went by and after having tuberculosis for 5 years she finally died. then one day some people found Poe on the side of the road, not in his clothes but someone Else's and his death remains a mystery. I hope this will help you out with homework and I only know this from my reading teacher I'm still in school and I am 13
How did Poe influence Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Edgar Allan Poe's detective, crime and mystery novels influenced Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write his own mysteries. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believed that Edgar Allen Poe's stories were "a model for all time."
What is the shortest poem Edgar Allan Poe has written?
To Helen is the shortest poem... it's 15 lines long:
To Helen
by Edgar Allan Poe
Helen, thy beauty is to me
Like those Nicean barks of yore,
That gently, o'er a perfum'd sea,
The weary way-worn wanderer bore
To his own native shore.
On desperate seas long wont to roam,
Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face,
Thy Naiad airs have brought me home
To the beauty of fair Greece,
And the grandeur of old Rome.
Lo! in that little window-niche
How statue-like I see thee stand!
The folded scroll within thy hand -
A Psyche from the regions which
Are Holy land!
~so pretty much, Poe has fallen in love with Helen and thinks she is the world.~
Edgar Allan Poe uses the word "sinister" to suggest that the physician has a dark or threatening presence, which adds to the eerie and foreboding atmosphere of the story. This description helps to build suspense and contributes to the overall sense of unease surrounding the character and his role in the narrative.
Poe believed that long poems required the reader to remember the beginning to appreciate the end, which hampers unity of impression. He felt that long poems had too many distractions and digressions that could break the intended emotional impact or theme. Poe advocated for brevity and unity of effect in poetry.
What kind of illness does Madeline Usher have?
In Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher," Madeline Usher is described as suffering from a mysterious illness that causes cataleptic fits and a gradual decline in health. Her symptoms include extreme lethargy, pallor, and a lingering illness that ultimately leads to her premature burial.
What prediction can be made about what will happen to the narrator on The Tell-Tale Heart?
Based on the narrator's increasing paranoia, irrational behavior, and guilt, it can be predicted that the narrator's conscience will ultimately drive him to confess his crime or suffer a mental breakdown.
How did Edgar Allan Poe express nationalism?
Edgar Allan Poe expressed nationalism through his writings by incorporating themes of American history and identity, as well as by promoting the idea of a unique American literary tradition. His poetry and stories often featured settings and characters that reflected the cultural and historical context of the United States, helping to shape a sense of national identity among his readers.
What kinds of books does the narrator and Roderick read in the fall of the house of Usher?
In "The Fall of the House of Usher," the narrator and Roderick read a variety of ancient and mystical texts, along with works of fiction and poetry. These include books on alchemy, astrology, and other esoteric subjects, as well as old family histories. The reading materials reflect the dark and mysterious atmosphere of the story.
What is Edgar Allan Poe's shortest story?
It really depends on the author and/or publisher what they think a short story is, and how long it can be before it becomes a novella. :) According to Wikipedia, one definition sets the limit at 7,500 words, and contemporary limits set the stories anywhere between 1,000 and 20,000 words.
Short stories are also sometimes described as works of fiction that can be read at one sitting rather than at several the way the novel generally is read. Of course, this definition is geared toward a reader with average reading ability and is just a general guide as opposed to a hard and fast definition. Edgar Allan Poe described a short story, or tale, in his critique of Nathaniel Hawthorne's book of short stories, "Twice Told Tales", as a story that should take about a half hour to one or two hours to read.
A short story should be only long enough for an average reader to finish it in one sitting rather than several as the longer novel or novella normally takes. This usually means it will be somewhere under 10,000 words. Edgar Allan Poe once described short stories, or 'tales' as they were then called as "...short prose narrative, requiring from a half-hour to one or two hours in its perusal...During the hour the hour of perusal the soul of the reader is at the writer's control. There are no external or extrinsic influences resulting from weariness or interruption." This was taken from a review he had made in 1842 of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Twice Told Tales." This is why it is common to say that a short story should be read in one sitting.
What happened to Poe's foster mother Frances Allan?
"For Annie" was written for Nancy Richmond (whom Poe called Annie) of Lowell, Massachusetts. Richmond was a married woman and Poe developed a strong platonic, though complicated, relationship with her.
Why did Robert Louis Stevenson admire Edgar Allan Poe?
Edgar Allan Poe, one of the founders of modern horror writing, has also influenced Stephen King's writing. It is in human nature to delve into the morbid realms of life, and both Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King do this in their writings. These two men appear to have an oddly similar morose obsession with death, terror, horror, and murder; many of Poe's and King's characters come to an untimely demise. In looking at both Poe's and King's works, one can see how Poe may have influenced King's writing.
How does the The Fall of the House of Usher end?
After burying his sister there is a knock at the door and its the sister covered in blood and mud and she falls on her brother and they both die the narrator then runs away and the house falls down
What happened to the first woman that Edgar allan poe loved?
Edgar Allen Poe's first love was Sarah Elmira Royster. They were secretly engaged to be married but her father did not approve of the marriage. Her father intercepted letters from Poe to her and she thought he had forgotten her. In 1826, Poe returned home from the University of Virginia to learn that she got engaged to Alexander B. Shelton. Later, Poe married Virginia Clemm, who died in 1847. About a year after that Poe went back to the now widow Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton. Her husband had died in 1844. Poe asked her to marry him. At first she did not wish to but then consented. Unfortunately, Poe died before they could be wed. Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton died in 1888.
What literary period did Poe write in?
Edgar Allan Poe wrote in the Romantic period of literature, characterized by an emphasis on emotion, imagination, and the supernatural. Poe's works often explore themes of mystery, darkness, and psychological depth, showcasing his unique contribution to American literature.
Which sentence best explains how Edgar Allen Poe builds suspense by using alliteration?
The repeated d sound creates a hard, jarring effect that makes the reader uneasy.
