Who is Edgar Allan Poe?
Edgar Allan Poe was a famous writer who was born in 1807 and lived until the age of forty. Poe has written several famous pieces that are still popular and studied today. Poe was seen as a troubled person, having lost both parents at a young age. He then lived with John Allan who was a tobacco merchant. Poe was educated well in England and in Richmond, he later attended the University of Virginia, but soon was dismissed for having too much debt. John Allan disapproved and refused to help Poe pay the debt. Poe eventually left the Allan home and went to Boston where he published a volume of poetry called, Tamerlane, which today is a very rare book. Were is Poe from… Poe was born in Boston. His mother died in 1826 in Richmond, Virginia where he was then raised by John Allan. In Poe’s later life he had lived in places including: Virginia, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. What has made Poe so famous… Edgar Allan Poe was the first to write a detective story. His works were
Edgar Allan Poe is one the most prolific American writers of the 19th century. He is particularly well known for his short stories of horror and terror, and also for his long verse work, “The Raven.” He remains an enigmatic figure in literature, and many adore his work. There are Poe societies in virtually every state in the US. Other horror writers, particularly Stephen King, have been quite negative about Poe’s writing. In King’s novel, The Shining, Poe is referred to as “the great American hack.” However, since King’s stories can also be traced to earlier fiction attempts, this statement must be taken with a grain of salt. Poe was born to actor parents in 1809. When both of his parents died within a couple of years of his birth, a merchant, John Allan, raised him. Poe would take Allan’s last name as his middle name in later years. Poe lived for several years in England as a child, but returned to the US in 1820. In 1826 Poe attended the University of Virginia, but his unfortunate pr
• What works is he most known for? • What style of writing is Edgar Allan Poe most known for? • Do you think the bubonic plague would be a subject matter Poe would find interesting to write about? Why or why not? • If Poe wrote a story about the bubonic plague who do you think would be the character? What would the setting be? What would the plot be? What would the tone be? • Access LitFinder and search “Edgar Allan Poe.” • Select “The Masque of the Red Death” and read the short story. • Write a five paragraph persuasive essay explaining why the bubonic plague is an ideal subject matter for Edgar Allan Poe. Focus on the bubonic plague, Edgar Allan Poe’s style and how the two connect. Outcome: Students learn about the historical relevance of the bubonic plague, the gothic style of Edgar Allan Poe and write a persuasive essay connecting the two. Related Activities for Students: • Access the Gale databases. • Select “What Do I Read Next” • Select Horror/Gothic. • Select Search. • Choose a
