Edgar Allen Poe

Where was he raised

Richmond Virginia in a foster home

Who was his biological mother

An actress who died of tuberculosis

Describe the positives of his childhood

• Good schooling

• Good manners

• Athletic

• Affection from mother

• Wealthy - foster dad’s tobacco business

Who were his foster parents

John Allen and Francis Allen

Describe the negatives of his childhood

• Loved women died

• Dad cheated on mom while she was dying of tuberculosis

• A woman he liked died of brain cancer

What university did he go to

University of Virginia in Charlottesville. There were murders there

Why did he drop out of college

His dad only gave him enough to pay tuition—he didn’t have money for anything else. His dad just wanted to get rid of him. This was when he was cheating.

What happened after he dropped out

He left and was on his own. He got into gambling to try to make money but got $2000 in debt. He fled to the army and it was good for him.

What happened after the army

He went to stay with his aunt and cousin in Baltimore. His cousin was eight at the time, and he was 20.

Who did he get married to

He was 26 when he married his 12 year old cousin Virginia Clemm

Where did he write his brutal reviews

in the Southern Literary Messenger, a magazine

Why couldn’t he sell the tell-tale heart

It was too loud and in your face and it wasn’t peaceful

What kept him from success

his alcoholism - he would show up to meetings and interviews drunk

How much did he earn from The Raven

$14. It did get popular though and kids would come up to him and he would say “evermore” which is from the writing

What type of stories did he write

Detective’s stories. Logical deductive reasoning + forensics to find the killer/criminal. Horror. These stories were bloody and death-filled.

how does The Raven relate to him

The narrator is grieving his loved one, and Poe wrote this while Virginia was dying.

Explain the circumstances of Poe’s death.

• About to marry a woman he was chasing

• Leaves Richmond with his horse and goes missing for five days

• Found in a gutter in Baltimore

• Wearing someone else’s tight clothes

• Goes into hospital unconscious

• Gains consciousness briefly, is shouting at things on the wall and delirious

• Says “God have mercy on my poor soul”

• Then he dies

Where was he born

Boston, Massachusetts