1. Edgar Allan Poe: The Master of Horror
Literacy 8 – Mr. Jost

2. Masters of Horror
Stephen King is often compared to the 18th century weaver of horror tales, Edgar Allan Poe

3. Poe’s Life Best known for poetry and short fiction pieces
Life span:
Created the detective story and refined psychological thriller
World-wide influence on literature

4. Poe’s Childhood Parents: David Poe and Elizabeth Atkins
Parents died before Poe was 3
Adopted by John Allan
Poe was baptized Edgar Allan Poe

5. Poe’s Young Adult Years
Poe quarreled with John Allan
Attended University of Virginia
Incurred gambling debts and left UV
Enlisted in US Army

6. Trouble Follows Poe After Allan died, Poe was discharged from Army
Poe was expelled from West Point
Throughout his troubles, Poe continued to write

7. Poe’s Romance Lived with Aunt, Maria Clemm, and cousin Virginia
Dated Virginia and married her (13 yr. old)
Began writing for newspapers/magazines
Moved to Philadelphia
Poe House in Philly

8. Poe’s Masterpieces Written
Poe published some of best known works:
The Raven
The Tell-Tale Heart
The Black Cat
The Cask of Amontillado
The Murders in Rue Morgue
The Premature Burial

9. Point of View Unreliable narrator
Usually done in the first-person point of view
Different types
The Adventurer – exaggeration or bragging; self-importance
The Madman – mental illness, such as schizophrenia or paranoia
The Clown – not taking the situations seriously
The Naïve – immature or limited in experience
The Liar – deliberately misrepresents himself to hide the truth from reader

10. Death in Poe’s Life Lost mother to “coughing sickness”/tuberculosis
Lost Virginia to “coughing sickness”/tuberculosis

11. Mystery of Poe’s Death Found delirious in Baltimore on October 3
Found in someone else's clothing
Found on Election Day
Died October 7
Many different theories about what actually happened