1. The inventor of the modern short story.
Edgar Allan Poe
The inventor of the modern short story.

2. Edgar Allan Poe
Born January 19th, 1809, Died October 7th, 1849 at 40 years of age
Parents were actors
Mom dies of tuberculosis when Poe was 2
Adopted by John Allan’s family
-they were wealthy

3. Poe’s Mother Elizabeth

4. John Allan
Poe’s foster father

5. Not welcomed by John Allan
Attended the University of Virginia in 1826
He was sent to school with no money or supplies
Left school because of gambling debts

6. Edgar Allan Poe Attended West Point in 1827
He resigned with a dishonorable discharge
Lived in Baltimore, MD
Was depressed and living in poverty
Married his cousin, Virginia Clem, in 1835
Earned $10 a week as an editor

7. Poe’s Historical Site in Boston

8. Poe had many 1sts 1st great literary critic
1st American recognized as a note-worthy writer
1st person to write detective stories

9. 1sts First psychological writer
1st author to write modern short stories

10. Poe’s favorite themes The death of a beautiful woman.
Diseases of the body and mind
Supernatural beauty

11. Themes Premature death Being haunted by death Sanity and Insanity
Order and chaos

12. Great works include: “The Cask of Amontillado”
“The Masque of the Red Death”
“The Raven”
“The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The Black Cat”

13. Hardships
Poe watched many of the women in his life die a bloody death.
Poe was rejected by by adopted father.
Poe had a drinking problem.
Poe was very poor.

15. Poe’s Mysterious Death
Poe was found unconscious on the streets of Baltimore, wearing someone else's clothes.
It was election day, and one theory is that he was drugged and made a repeat voter.

16. Poe’s last home in Richmond

17. Poe’s Memorial Grave in Boston