1. Background

2. Poe’s Childhood Poe lost both of his parents at an early age. His mother, Eliza, was an actress who died of Tuberculous when Edgar was not even 3 years old.

3. Poe’s Childhood Poe was taken in by the Allan family after his mother died.

4. Poe’s Childhood Poe grew up in Richmond, Virginia where he was a very athletic and happy child. He also spent time in England.

5. Poe’s Education Poe attended the University of Virginia He was forced to leave due to gambling debts that his foster father John Allen refused to pay

6. Poe’s Education Poe then joined the Army and later attended West Point in an effort to please his foster father

7. Poe’s Family Life John Allen calls Poe to his deathbed to tell him that he was left out of his will

8. Poe’s Family Life Poe’s relationship with Allan is likely the source for his combative attitude

9. Poe’s Family Life Poe falls in love with and marries his cousin Virginia when she was not quite 13 years old Poe was a loving and devoted husband

10. Poe’s Writing Career Poe begins writing and publishing poems and short stories He works as a magazine editor where his harsh reviews earn him the nickname, “The Comanche of Literature”

11. Poe’s Writing Career Poe is credited with having created the detective story Most of Poe’s writings reflect the horrible personal tragedies that he suffered

12. Poe’s Writing Career In 1845, “The Raven” is published and poe receives great praise and fame However, he earned just $14 for the poem

13. Poe’s Writing Career “The Raven” foreshadows what was going to happen to Virginia and how Poe would react to the loss of his wife

14. Poe’s Writing Career In 1847, Virginia dies of consumption (tuberculosis) She joins a long list of people Poe knew and loved that died of the disease

15. Poe’s Writing Career In “The Masque of the Red Death”, the Red Death symbolizes tuberculosis

16. Poe’s Writing Career Poe pays tribute to his late wife in the poem “Annabel Lee”

17. Poe’s Writing Career As evidenced in his writing, Poe yearned for a connection with the afterlife.

18. Poe’s Demise Poe suffered from financial problems throughout his life Toward the end of his life, Poe felt the desparate need to “secure a wife.”

19. Poe’s Demise Poe turned to drinking with led to bouts of insanity.

20. Poe’s Demise On October 7, 1849, Poe dies in Baltimore. His last words were “God, help my poor soul.”

21. Credits http://b-womeninamericanhistory19.blogspot.com/2009/10/edgar-allan-poe-1809-1849-his-13-year.html http://indusitralizationedgarallanpoe.blogspot.com/ http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/poe/exhibition/familyhistory/index.html http://richmondthenandnow.com/Newspaper-Articles/Poe-2.html http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/edgar-allan-poes-former-dorm-room-124088 http://poeinscotland.com/id20.html http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=57771403 http://www.eapoe.org/poeimage.htm http://www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poef003.htm http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/p/poe/edgar_allan/p74p/poem69.html http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-masque-of-the-red-death/18220 http://theundergroundconservative.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/poe-grave-mystery-visitor-fails-to-show/