Edgar Allen Poe Test

The Gothic Movement

The term "gothick" actually comes from a tribal name from 1 AD. The Gothicks were a rough and brutal tribe who swept through the Roman Empire long ago. They destroyed Roman towns in Europe. Because literary writers wanted to go back to more medieval poetry, they named their movement The Gothic Movement

Focus

Gothic stories always have a point behind them. Their principle aim is to evoke terror by using dark mystery and suspense. Violence never occurs simply for the sake of violence. Every violent or extreme event is purposeful and used to reveal something about the plot.

Extreme Situations

These unreal, amazing scenarios are used to completely blow everything out of proportion

Deeper Meaning

After catching the reader's attention with exotic tales of monsters, criminals,violence, revenge and death, the author can bring a reader into his work in order to see the true meaning behind the tales.

Class Structure

During this time in Europe, classes were very much set, You will find a head of the manor and servants in Gothic literature.

Elements of the Supernatural

This doesn't mean that each piece has vampires, werewolves and ghosts, but many contain black mysterious birds, shreds of white disappearing down a hall, or bumps in the night. Events can't be explained with logic.

Death and Darkness

Gothic writers often focus on and talk about death and darkness- blackness, hidden passages, sliding panels, creaking doors, dark castles, dungeons, mysterious disappearances.

Innocent Heroine

Often a fair maiden will suffer due to a villain

Single Effect

Poe believed a story should be constructed to achieve "a certain unique or single effect". Every character, incident, and detail in a story should contribute to this effect.

Who were Poe's parents?

Eliza and David Poe

What happened to Poe's father when Poe was a baby?

His father abandoned his family

When and how did Poe's mother die?

His mother died in 1811 after she contracted tuberculosis

Who raised Poe after his mother's death and describe his relation with his foster family

James and Frances Allan took in Poe, and Poe's relation with his foster father had constant tensions.

Where did Poe first go to college and whom did he leave behind? Why didn't he graduate?

Poe went to the University of Virginia and he left behind his fiance. He failed to graduate because he couldn't pay the tuition

Why didn't Poe ever marry his fiance?

Poe's fiance got married to someone else.

What did Poe join at age 18 and explain his progress. Where did he excel academically after that, and why did he leave?

Poe joined the army and he excelled and was raised to the rank of sergeant major. He then excelled at West Point until he eventually left due to financial issues.

Why did Poe have trouble with his editor at the Southern Literary Messanger?

Poe's drinking problems caused White and Poe to have a rocky relation with each other.

Whom did Poe marry when he was 27 years old?

Poe married his 13 year old cousin, Virginia,

Two people had a stabilizing effect on Poe. Who were they?

Virginia and Mary both had a stabilizing effect on Poe

Which of Poe's works is considered the first modern detective story?

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is considered the first modern day detective story,

Poe's contribution to what genre makes him famous today? Why?

His contribution to horror is what makes him famous because he was one of the first to depict psychological horror.

What is Poe's most famous literary work? How much did he earn on it?

Poe's most famous piece is "The Raven" and earned $15 on it.

Poe was the first American writer to do what?

Poe was the first American writer to live completely off of his earnings from writing.

How did his wife die, and how did her death affect Poe?

His wife died of tuberculosis in 1847, and Poe never emotionally or mentally recovered from her death.

What is the mystery surrounding Poe's death?

Poe hadn't been seen a couple days before his death and when he did, he was admitted to Washington University Hospital. He was in and out bouts of consciousness and was delirious until he died of an unknown cause, marked as "phrenitis".