Life of Edgar Allan Poe - "The Raven"

1. Edgar Allan Poe
1809-1849

2. Edgar Poe was born
in Boston on January
19, 1809, to David
and Elizabeth Poe.
Elizabeth died in
1811 shortly after
separating from
David and taking the
three children
Henry, Edgar, and
Rosalie, with her.

3. The three children were
separated;
• David lived with their
grandparents
• Edgar was adopted by
Mr. and Mrs. John Allan
• Rosalie was adopted by
another family.

4. When Poe was 6, he went
to school in England for
5 years. He learned
Latin and French, as
well as math and
history. He later
returned to school in
America and continued
his studies. Edgar Allan
went to the University
of Virginia in 1826. He
was 17.

5. Even though John Allan
had plenty of money,
he only gave Edgar
about a third of what
he needed. Although
Edgar had done well in
Latin and French, he
started to drink
heavily and quickly
became in debt. He had
to quit school less
than a year later.

6. Edgar Allan had no money,
no job skills, and had
been shunned by John
Allan. Edgar went to
Boston and joined the
U.S. Army in 1827. He was
18. He did reasonably
well in the Army and
attained the rank of
sergeant major. In 1829,
Mrs. Allan died and John
Allan tried to be
friendly towards Edgar
and signed Edgar's

7. In 1830, Edgar Allan
entered West Point as
a cadet. He didn't
stay long because John
Allan refused to send
him any money. It is
thought that Edgar
purposely broke the
rules and ignored his
duties so he would be
dismissed.

8. In 1831, Edgar Allan Poe
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. Poe had no
friends, no job, and was in
financial trouble. He sent
a letter to John Allan
begging for help but none
came. John Allan died in
1834 and did not mention
Edgar in his will.

9. In 1836, married her cousin
Virginia Clemm. She was
daughter of Maria Clemm,
Poe’s aunt. She died in
1847 from tuberculosis at
the age of 24.

10. Poe worked as a
newspaper editor
and writer
throughout his
life, but he never
made enough money
to be comfortable.

11. Why is this author considered
influential?
– His literary criticism shaped literature.
– His poetry is memorable.
– He created the modern short story (unity
of character, detail, mood).
– He created the detective story (inspired
Sherlock Holmes character).
– Influenced Dreiser, Faulkner, Doyle, Shaw
and Kinge.

12. –Father of Modern
Short Story
–Father of Detective
Story
–Father of
Psychoanalytic
Criticism
HE IS THE FATHER OF…

13. On October 3, 1849, Poe was
found on the streets of
Baltimore delirious, "in
great distress, and... in
need of immediate
assistance", according to
the man who found him,
Joseph W. Walker. He was
taken to the Washington
College Hospital, where he
died on Sunday, October 7,
1849, at 5:00 in the
morning.

14. Poe was never coherent
long enough to explain
how he came to be in his
dire condition, and,
oddly, was wearing
clothes that were not
his own. Poe is said to
have repeatedly called
out the name "Reynolds"
on the night before his
death, though it is
unclear to whom he was
referring.

15. Some sources say Poe's
final words were "Lord
help my poor soul."66 All
medical records,
including his death
certificate, have been
lost. Newspapers at the
time reported Poe's death
as "congestion of the
brain" or "cerebral
inflammation", common
euphemisms for deaths
from disreputable causes
such as alcoholism.

16. The actual
cause of death
remains a
mystery.

17. How successful was this author
during his/her lifetime?
–Poe was a well known,
if controversial,
critic.
–“The Raven” made him a
famous poet.
–He was always poor.

18. The Raven

19. ONCE upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping,
suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
The Raven

20. Poetry
Qualities

21. ONCE upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping,
suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping,rapping at my chamber door.

22. ONCE upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping,
suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping,rapping at my chamber door.

23. ONCE upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping,
suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping,rapping at my chamber door.