1. Edgar Allan Poe Short Stories

2. Brief Biography of Poe 1809-1849 1809-1849 Both parents died before he was three Both parents died before he was three He was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan He was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan Poe took their last, name before his biological last name, giving him the name Edgar Allan Poe Poe took their last, name before his biological last name, giving him the name Edgar Allan Poe

3. Additional Information Enlisted in the army after his adopted mother died Enlisted in the army after his adopted mother died He did well in the Army and gained the rank of sergeant major He did well in the Army and gained the rank of sergeant major After this, Poe attended West Point After this, Poe attended West Point At West Point, Poe became interested in poetry At West Point, Poe became interested in poetry

4. His First Jobs In 1831, Poe went to New York City and had poetry published In 1831, Poe went to New York City and had poetry published A few years later he got a job as an editor at a newspaper A few years later he got a job as an editor at a newspaper 1832 five of Poe’s short stories were published in the Philadelphia newspaper. During this period as well, his addiction to opium and alcohol began 1832 five of Poe’s short stories were published in the Philadelphia newspaper. During this period as well, his addiction to opium and alcohol began He married his cousin Virginia when he was 27, she was 13 He married his cousin Virginia when he was 27, she was 13

5. Important Works and Later Life 1839- “The Fall of the House of Usher” published 1839- “The Fall of the House of Usher” published 1843- “The Black Cat” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” published 1843- “The Black Cat” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” published 1845- “The Masque of the Red Death” published 1845- “The Masque of the Red Death” published 1846- “The Cask of Amontillado” published 1846- “The Cask of Amontillado” published 1847 - Virginia died and alcohol and drug abuse sky rockets! 1847 - Virginia died and alcohol and drug abuse sky rockets! Sunday October 7, 1849 - found dead on the street in Baltimore Sunday October 7, 1849 - found dead on the street in Baltimore

6. “The Fall of the House of Usher” Short story begins with the narrator arriving at his boyhood friend Roderick Usher’s house in the middle of the night Short story begins with the narrator arriving at his boyhood friend Roderick Usher’s house in the middle of the night The house is decaying and spooky The house is decaying and spooky Only one member of the Usher family has survived from generation to generation Only one member of the Usher family has survived from generation to generation The narrator’s presence has been requested by Roderick to help him with his existing mental illness The narrator’s presence has been requested by Roderick to help him with his existing mental illness Roderick tells the narrator that he suffers from nerves and fear and his senses are heightened Roderick tells the narrator that he suffers from nerves and fear and his senses are heightened

7. “The Fall of the House of Usher” During the first evening in the old castle, the narrator encounters Roderick’s sister, a ghostly woman During the first evening in the old castle, the narrator encounters Roderick’s sister, a ghostly woman Roderick’s sister, Madeline, has become ill with a mysterious sickness Roderick’s sister, Madeline, has become ill with a mysterious sickness Days pass by and the old friends engage in conversation and the enjoyment of the arts Days pass by and the old friends engage in conversation and the enjoyment of the arts Roderick believes that the house itself is unhealthy Roderick believes that the house itself is unhealthy One night Roderick exclaims that his sister has died One night Roderick exclaims that his sister has died Roderick asks the narrator if he could help him bury his dead sister temporarily in the tombs below the house Roderick asks the narrator if he could help him bury his dead sister temporarily in the tombs below the house Roderick believes the doctor will want to examine the body since the disease was mysterious Roderick believes the doctor will want to examine the body since the disease was mysterious

8. “The Fall of the House of Usher” The narrator realizes that Roderick and Madeline were twins The narrator realizes that Roderick and Madeline were twins Both men have trouble sleeping and Roderick finds his house surrounded by a strange gas Both men have trouble sleeping and Roderick finds his house surrounded by a strange gas The narrator reads to Roderick to pass time and hears noises that correspond to the description in the story The narrator reads to Roderick to pass time and hears noises that correspond to the description in the story Roderick admits he has been hearing the noises and fears he has buried his sister alive Roderick admits he has been hearing the noises and fears he has buried his sister alive Madeline appears from behind the door, dressed in white and bloodied from her struggle to get out of the coffin Madeline appears from behind the door, dressed in white and bloodied from her struggle to get out of the coffin Madeline attacks Roderick as the life drains from her and he dies of fear Madeline attacks Roderick as the life drains from her and he dies of fear The narrator fleas the house of Usher and as he runs away, the house crumbles to the ground The narrator fleas the house of Usher and as he runs away, the house crumbles to the ground

9. “The Tell-Tale Heart” An unnamed narrator begins the story by claiming he is nervous but not crazy An unnamed narrator begins the story by claiming he is nervous but not crazy He wants to defend his sanity yet confess to having killed an old man He wants to defend his sanity yet confess to having killed an old man His motivation is not money or passion, but a fear of the man’s pale blue eye His motivation is not money or passion, but a fear of the man’s pale blue eye

10. “The Tell-Tale Heart” Every night he went to the old man’s room and watched him sleep Every night he went to the old man’s room and watched him sleep He slowly opens the lantern until all he sees is the pale blue eye He slowly opens the lantern until all he sees is the pale blue eye After a week, the narrator decides the time is right to kill the man After a week, the narrator decides the time is right to kill the man When he opens the lantern, the old man wakes up and cries out When he opens the lantern, the old man wakes up and cries out The old man is frightened, and the narrator believes he can hear the man’s heart beat The old man is frightened, and the narrator believes he can hear the man’s heart beat He is afraid people might hear the heartbeat so he attacks and kills the old man He is afraid people might hear the heartbeat so he attacks and kills the old man

11. “The Tell-Tale Heart” He cuts the body apart and puts it under the floorboards of the bedroom He cuts the body apart and puts it under the floorboards of the bedroom When he finishes the police arrive at the door When he finishes the police arrive at the door The police men look around because someone heard a scream in the middle of the night The police men look around because someone heard a scream in the middle of the night The police men are not suspicious of the narrator The police men are not suspicious of the narrator While having a conversation with the police, he began to hear the beating of the old man’s heart While having a conversation with the police, he began to hear the beating of the old man’s heart He panics and thinks the police are mocking him with their laughter He panics and thinks the police are mocking him with their laughter He confesses to the crime and shrieks at the men to rip up the floorboards He confesses to the crime and shrieks at the men to rip up the floorboards

12. “The Black Cat” The night before his death, the narrator begins his story by saying he is not crazy despite his unbelievable story The night before his death, the narrator begins his story by saying he is not crazy despite his unbelievable story The narrator describes how tenderhearted he has always been The narrator describes how tenderhearted he has always been He has always loved animals He has always loved animals After he gets married they have many pets, his favorite is his black cat named Pluto After he gets married they have many pets, his favorite is his black cat named Pluto His usual kind disposition is suddenly and completely changed when he begins to drink alcohol His usual kind disposition is suddenly and completely changed when he begins to drink alcohol He begins to abuse his wife and pets He begins to abuse his wife and pets One night he grabbed Pluto and after being bitten he cuts out the cat’s eye One night he grabbed Pluto and after being bitten he cuts out the cat’s eye

13. “The Black Cat” The next morning he woke up and only felt partially bad for what happened The next morning he woke up and only felt partially bad for what happened He knew he could not change his new black soul He knew he could not change his new black soul Pluto ignored him further so he hangs Pluto from the limb of a tree one morning Pluto ignored him further so he hangs Pluto from the limb of a tree one morning That night the narrator’s house burns down That night the narrator’s house burns down The next day, his neighbors were standing around the only wall that survived the fire The next day, his neighbors were standing around the only wall that survived the fire The narrator went to see what they were looking at and found the impression of a gigantic cat with a rope around his neck on the surface of the wall The narrator went to see what they were looking at and found the impression of a gigantic cat with a rope around his neck on the surface of the wall He could not explain what happened and was haunted by what he saw He could not explain what happened and was haunted by what he saw

14. “The Black Cat” One night while he was drinking, he finds a new black cat with a splash of white on it One night while he was drinking, he finds a new black cat with a splash of white on it At first, the narrator is very fond of the cat but over time, the narrator cannot avoid hating the cat At first, the narrator is very fond of the cat but over time, the narrator cannot avoid hating the cat His violent feelings worsen when he sees the cat’s white fur has taken the shape of the gallows, revealing how he killed Pluto His violent feelings worsen when he sees the cat’s white fur has taken the shape of the gallows, revealing how he killed Pluto While walking down to the cellar, he almost trips over the cat and picks up an axe to attack the cat While walking down to the cellar, he almost trips over the cat and picks up an axe to attack the cat His wife defends the cat, which angers him, so he kills her instead His wife defends the cat, which angers him, so he kills her instead He hides the body in the cellar wall, then finds the cat has gone He hides the body in the cellar wall, then finds the cat has gone The police come by unexpectedly and the narrator shows them around the house The police come by unexpectedly and the narrator shows them around the house When he knocks on the new wall to show how sturdy it is, a loud scream comes from inside When he knocks on the new wall to show how sturdy it is, a loud scream comes from inside The police take the wall apart, and find the black cat sitting on the dead wife’s head The police take the wall apart, and find the black cat sitting on the dead wife’s head

15. “The Masque of the Red Death” A disease called the Red Death plagues the country and causes the victims to die quickly and gruesomely A disease called the Red Death plagues the country and causes the victims to die quickly and gruesomely Even though the disease was spreading quickly, Prince Prospero is not discouraged Even though the disease was spreading quickly, Prince Prospero is not discouraged He locks the gates to his palace trying to keep the plague out He locks the gates to his palace trying to keep the plague out He ignores the illness taking over the land He ignores the illness taking over the land

16. “The Masque of the Red Death” A few months later he wants to throw a masquerade ball A few months later he wants to throw a masquerade ball He decorates each room with a different color He decorates each room with a different color Blue- East, windows the same color Blue- East, windows the same color Purple- windows the same color Purple- windows the same color Green- windows the same color Green- windows the same color Orange- windows the same color Orange- windows the same color White- windows the same color White- windows the same color Violet- windows the same color Violet- windows the same color Black- West, blood-red windows Black- West, blood-red windows In the black room there is an ebony clock that rings each hour and distracts everyone when it rings In the black room there is an ebony clock that rings each hour and distracts everyone when it rings

17. “The Masque of the Red Death” All the colorful rooms were beautiful, but everyone avoided the black and red room All the colorful rooms were beautiful, but everyone avoided the black and red room At midnight a new guest appears. His mask looks like the face of a corpse, he is wearing a funeral shroud, and blood spots make him look like he is a victim of the Red Death At midnight a new guest appears. His mask looks like the face of a corpse, he is wearing a funeral shroud, and blood spots make him look like he is a victim of the Red Death Prospero becomes angry but his guest are afraid and allow him to walk through every room Prospero becomes angry but his guest are afraid and allow him to walk through every room When Prospero catches the man, he dies When Prospero catches the man, he dies The other guests come to attack the cloaked man and realize there is no one underneath the costume The other guests come to attack the cloaked man and realize there is no one underneath the costume Everyone dies because the Red Death has come into the castle Everyone dies because the Red Death has come into the castle

18. “The Cask of Amontillado” The narrator, Montresor, begins the story by saying he has been insulted by an acquaintance named Fortunato The narrator, Montresor, begins the story by saying he has been insulted by an acquaintance named Fortunato Montresor plots revenge, but does not want to be harmed Montresor plots revenge, but does not want to be harmed He plans to use Fortunato’s love of wine against him He plans to use Fortunato’s love of wine against him Motresor, wearing a black silk mask, approaches Fortunato who wears a colorful jester costume Motresor, wearing a black silk mask, approaches Fortunato who wears a colorful jester costume He tells Fortunato that he has a drink that could pass for Amontillado, a Spanish sherry He tells Fortunato that he has a drink that could pass for Amontillado, a Spanish sherry Montresor tells Fortunato that if he is too busy, he will ask another man named Luchesi to taste it Montresor tells Fortunato that if he is too busy, he will ask another man named Luchesi to taste it Fortnuato becomes jealous and demands to be able to taste it Fortnuato becomes jealous and demands to be able to taste it The two men go to Montresor’s vaults The two men go to Montresor’s vaults

19. “The Cask of Amontillado” The two men are completely alone as they walk into the damp vaults that are covered in a whitish mineral The two men are completely alone as they walk into the damp vaults that are covered in a whitish mineral This mineral causes Fortunato to cough, but he refuses to leave and go home This mineral causes Fortunato to cough, but he refuses to leave and go home The vaults are a crypt to Montresor’s family, and he reminds Fortunato that his family motto is “no one attacks me with impunity” The vaults are a crypt to Montresor’s family, and he reminds Fortunato that his family motto is “no one attacks me with impunity” The two men walk into a crypt where 3 out of 4 walls are covered in bones The two men walk into a crypt where 3 out of 4 walls are covered in bones The last wall has a recess where Montresor claims he is keeping the Amontillado The last wall has a recess where Montresor claims he is keeping the Amontillado When Fortunato goes to see the drink, Montresor quickly chains him to a stone When Fortunato goes to see the drink, Montresor quickly chains him to a stone

20. “The Cask of Amontillado” Montresor begins to wall up the entrance to the small crypt to trap Fortunato inside Montresor begins to wall up the entrance to the small crypt to trap Fortunato inside Fortunato screams while Montresor builds the first layer of the wall Fortunato screams while Montresor builds the first layer of the wall His cries turn to moans as he begins to feel helpless His cries turn to moans as he begins to feel helpless Finally, Fortunato laughs because he believes this is a joke Finally, Fortunato laughs because he believes this is a joke Montreso is not joking and puts the last brick in place Montreso is not joking and puts the last brick in place Montreso calls out Fortunato’s name twice, and is not answered back Montreso calls out Fortunato’s name twice, and is not answered back He can hear the bells ringing on Fortunato’s costume He can hear the bells ringing on Fortunato’s costume He puts bones back up on this new wall and writes that no one has disturbed them for fifty years He puts bones back up on this new wall and writes that no one has disturbed them for fifty years He concludes with a Latin phrase “May he rest in peace” He concludes with a Latin phrase “May he rest in peace”