Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe

Poe’s mother. At age 15, marries a dancer and has Edgar. He, David Poe, left them two years later and dies of alcoholism in a Chicago hotel. Now she is 17, beautiful, and poor. Acts to live. Front row seat for her 2 to 3 year old while playing Juliet 8 times a week.

commit suicide: knife in to heart die, comes back to life, takes out the knife, and takes him out to dinner.

more dead young beautiful women that refuse to die in his writings. They move to Richmond. Dies of consumption What is consumption?

handkerchief death certificate, drowning--this is the early 1800's. Edgar uses red for death not black. obsessed with dead women.

Francis Allen and John Allen no adoption Sent to London for schooling. next to a cemetery. Math and physical education (help dig graves for phys. Ed.) in cemetery.

Back in Richmond, VA for high school Friend’s mom. She is dark, petite, etc. Like his mother, he is in love with her. Dies of a tumor. every night, holds hand until she dies. visits her grave every night for one year.

Virginia University, drops out. Comes back and Francis is dying of consumption. John Allen (700k) marries quickly and has twins. No inheritance

He is poor, rents a cold old apartment. Tries writing to earn money only dead people invents the “Tale of Horror.” Poe makes Horror respectable. every sentence and paragraph contribute to the single theme.

Maria Clemm, sister of David Poe, offers her home and support. When he arrives, she has 5 kids that she can’t feed, the youngest, Virginia, she is young and beautiful like his mother. Offers to marry cousin She is 10. Told to wait until 13. He is 26.

Charles Dickens. stuck in Richmond Lunch with Poe Dickens pet named Grip.

He applies this to his poem to Lenore, The most popular influential, intricately rhymed poem in the world. Overnight success.

published it in the newspaper no copyrights. 3 months later Virginia is dying of consumption --too poor to buy a blanket, but had a cat for warmth. He wrote a tribute to his wife To Virginia (State or wife), Changed it to Annabel Lee. Instant hit. Job in New York: editor of poetry magazine.

While traveling to New York and stops in Baltimore, Election He looks weird, good candidate. Wants to buy him a drink, no, I get crazy I’ll do anything. Baltimore Lemonade. 7 shots, wanders out and collapses literally in the gutter. Dies three days later in hospital.

On third day, he raises up and says, “God have mercy on my soul.” and dies at age 40. He is our #1 export in this country. T he French say that he is the greatest writer in English, they also say that Jerry Lewis is the greatest comedian.

After death, debts: Dug up his wife’s bones and show them as the bones of Annabel Lee.

Annabel lee-dactylic iambic. His invention of the Detective Fiction of the main character.

No good Biographer--he uses 27 sources. Used opium to keep warm and became addicted. He did not write his stories, irrelevant to his genius.