1. Edgar Allan Poe Man of Mystery

2. Poe was born in 1809. His mother left his father when Poe was a baby due to Poe’s father’s drinking problem. When his mother died (Poe was only 3 yrs old), he was practically left an orphan. Relatives took him in, though they never formally adopted him.

3. Though financially supportive and kind, John Allan (Poe’s foster father) made no secret of his disappointment in Edgar– in his idleness, his indifferences to business life, and in his literary ambitions Poe’s home in Richmond with John and Frances Allan

4. Poe had serious issues with both gambling and drinking, and John Allan withdrew him from college when he learned of the debt he was in. After failing to “make it” in Boston, Poe entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, probably in an effort to please his foster father. *He wanted to be included in John Allan’s will.

5. Poe moved in with his aunt in Baltimore, and in 1835 married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia. Virginia died of tuberculosis in 1847.

6. Poe’s Writing Though Poe had been known in literary circles, it was not until his publication of “The Raven” in 1845 that he received true fame. He is known as the Father of the Modern Detective Story. Both Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Stephen King have pointed to Poe as their literary forefather. Poe also contributed greatly to the horror genre.

7. Gothic Poe Poe frequently explores the depths of the human psyche. Many of his characters are neurotic and obsessive. Poe also employs the “unreliable narrator,” a narrator whose credibility has been seriously compromised. Poe loves questions surrounding death.

8. Poe’s Mysterious Death In 1849, Poe disappeared. A week later he was found delirious in a Baltimore tavern wearing tattered clothing that did not belong to him. Poe was taken to a hospital and went in and out of consciousness for four days before dying. His cause of death is still unknown. Possible causes: brain tumor, rabies, “cooping,” alcoholism, epilepsy, diabetes

10. Assignment Read the article assigned to your group. On construction paper, create a tombstone for Poe. It must include: his name, birth and death year, and one fact from this powerpoint. Beneath the tombstone, write a summary of your article. It should have a TOPIC SENTENCE and at least THREE pieces of evidence supporting your death theory.