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Summary of Edgar Allan Poe's Life
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This is a short summary of Poe's life, for more detailed information
you should check out my biography. If you know what you are looking for
go to the index or else, go directly
to the first page.
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Edgar Allan Poe, son of Actress Eliza Poe and Actor
David Poe Jr., born 19th of
January 1809, was mostly known for his poems and short tales and his
literary criticism. He has been given credit for inventing the detective
story and his pshycological thrillers have been infuences for many writers
worldwide.
Edgar and his brother and sister were orphaned before Edgar's third
birthday and Edgar was taken in to the home of
John and Fanny Allan in
Richmond, Va. The Allans lived in England for five years (1815-1820)
where Edgar also attended school. In 1826 he entered the University of
Virginia. Although a good student he was forced to gambling since John
Allan did not provide well enough. Allan refused to pay Edgar's debts and
Edgar had to leave the University after only one year.
In 1827 Edgar published his first book,
"Tamerlane and other poems"
anonymously under the signature "A Bostonian". The poems were heavily
influenced from Byron and showed of a youthful attitude.
Later in 1827 Edgar enlisted in the Army under the name Edgar A Perry
where his quarrels with John Allan continued. Edgar did well in the army
but in 1829 he left and decided to apply for a cadetship at West Point.
Before he was able to enter West Point Edgar published a book entitled
"Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane,
and minor poems", this time the book was published,
not anonymously, but under the name Edgar A. Poe, where the middle initial
acknowledged John Allan's name.
Before Edgar left West Point he received financial aid from his fellow
cadets to publish a third edition of the book.
Edgar called it a
second edition though and it was entitled "Poems by Edgar A. Poe" in which
his famous poems "To Helen"
(another version was published in 1848)
and
"Israfel" appeared. These show
of the musical effect that has come to characterize Edgar's poems.
Later Poe moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt, Maria Clemm, and his
first cousin Virginia. In 1832 he won a $50 prize for his story
"MS. Found in a Bottle" in the Baltimore
Saturday Visiter. In 1835 Poe brought his aunt and cousin to Richmond where
he worked with
Thomas Willis White at the
Southern Litterary Messenger. He
also married his cousin Virginia, only thirteen years old.
Most of Edgar's work with the Messenger were of a critical nature
but he also published some literary work such as "Berenice". His work with the writing and the editorial departments of
the Messenger increased the circulation of the magazine.
But his drinking habits forced White to eventually let him go.
Edgar moved around to New York and Philadelphia, trying to establish a name
in literary journalism but without any major success. His theories on
musical poems and short prose narratives which were to aim at
"a certain unique or single effect" can be for example be seen in
"Ligeia"(1838) and
THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1839) which
would eventually become one of his most famous stories.
"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841) is sometimes
considered the first detective story. Examples of his use of a rythmic and
flowing language are the poems "The Raven" (1845) and
"The Bells" (1849). The Raven was a
symbol of "Mournful and never ending remembrance" which is not only a
good description for "The Raven" but could be applied to almost all of his
work.
In January 1847 Virginia Died and Edgar took this very hard but he kept on
writing until the day he died in Baltimore October 7, 1849.
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