 Born in Boston  The son of traveling actors  Tragic and unhappy life

 Mother died, father deserted him at the age of two  Adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan  Constant disagreements with his step-father

 Studied briefly at the University of Virginia  Drinking and gambling difficulties kept him from continuing at UVA

 Received an appointment to West Point, but provoked his own dismissal  Caused a final separation between himself and step- father

 In 1836, Poe married his 14 year- old cousin, Virginia  During the last 12 years of his life, Poe worked as a journalist, editor, and creative writer

 Poe Lived in poverty stricken conditions  In 1846, wife died after a long illness

 He died a poor man in Baltimore after having been found in a drunken stupor

Known for: TTales of mystery and terror stories IIntroducing the modern detective story

 Short Stories  The Tell-Tale Heart  The Cask of Amontillado  The Black Cat,  The Pit and The Pendulum PPoems: TThe Raven AAnnabel Lee TTo Helen LLenore

 Sometimes strange, special effects were linked to his addiction to laudanum  Laudanum, a highly addictive, opium- based medicine, was commonly used in the treatment of headaches and stomach pains in the 1800’s

 Setting  A nameless Italian city in an unspecified year (possibly in the 18th century)  Topics:  Revenge  Madness  Friendship

 Carnival takes places prior to the start of the Lenten season (similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans).  Lent is when people give up various pleasures - including drinking alcohol.  Also during this time, people will typically wear masks and costumes  They dance and drink on the streets as a “last hurrah” before giving up meat and other pleasures to do penance for their sins.

 Catacombs = long, winding underground tunnels.  Early Christians would bury their dead in these locations  Suitable for burial because these underground locales were dark and cool  For the purposes of “The Cask of Amontillado”, catacombs are also suitable for the safekeeping of alcohol.

 Poe chooses to convey the story through the murderer's perspective.  This story, along with many others of Poe’s, are classic examples of the reliable vs. unreliable narrator.  Reliable = ?  Unreliable = ?