1. Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1849 American Writer Tortured genius Tortured genius master of horror master of horror father of the detective story father of the detective story literary critic literary critic

2. Biography Father left when he was born, mother died when he was three years old Father left when he was born, mother died when he was three years old Adopted, but his adopted mother also died & he had a stormy relationship with adopted father Adopted, but his adopted mother also died & he had a stormy relationship with adopted father Married his cousin; lived in Baltimore, NYC, Boston & Philadelphia Married his cousin; lived in Baltimore, NYC, Boston & Philadelphia Known for legendary drinking binges Known for legendary drinking binges Pioneered the Gothic horror story, detective story and was known as a literary critic Pioneered the Gothic horror story, detective story and was known as a literary critic Fought w/ other famous American writers Fought w/ other famous American writers Supposedly died of alcohol poisoning in a gutter in Baltimore Supposedly died of alcohol poisoning in a gutter in Baltimore

3. Historical Context The early 19 th century was known as “The American Renaissance” in literature The early 19 th century was known as “The American Renaissance” in literature For the first time, American writing moved away from the religious texts of the Puritans and Revolutionary War text For the first time, American writing moved away from the religious texts of the Puritans and Revolutionary War text American writers now had a voice of their own American writers now had a voice of their own Contemporaries: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville Contemporaries: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville Poe was an important contributor: 1 st American writer of horror, suspense, and mystery Poe was an important contributor: 1 st American writer of horror, suspense, and mystery

4. Poe’s Gothic Horror stories Explores the dark side of human experience Explores the dark side of human experience Death, alienation, nightmares, ghosts, haunting, graphic violence and insanity Death, alienation, nightmares, ghosts, haunting, graphic violence and insanity American Gothic portrays the guilty conscience of a culture plagued by poverty and slavery American Gothic portrays the guilty conscience of a culture plagued by poverty and slavery

5. Poe’s Detective Stories The word “detective” did not exist in English when Poe was writing The word “detective” did not exist in English when Poe was writing Poe was the first to create detective characters who used psychoanalysis, the powers of reasoning and deduction to catch devious criminals Poe was the first to create detective characters who used psychoanalysis, the powers of reasoning and deduction to catch devious criminals Poe worked puzzles, word games and secret codes into these stories Poe worked puzzles, word games and secret codes into these stories His character, C. Auguste Dupin was copied by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes His character, C. Auguste Dupin was copied by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes

6. Poe as Literary Critic One of America’s first popular literary critics One of America’s first popular literary critics His literary criticism made him a popular speaker on the lecture circuit His literary criticism made him a popular speaker on the lecture circuit He often attacked many other famous authors of his time He often attacked many other famous authors of his time After his death, many writers attempted to ruin his reputation as revenge for criticism After his death, many writers attempted to ruin his reputation as revenge for criticism

7. Common Themes Love & Hate—Examined how the two are not opposites, but nearly the same Love & Hate—Examined how the two are not opposites, but nearly the same Self vs. alter-ego—The internal struggles we experience between our different personalities Self vs. alter-ego—The internal struggles we experience between our different personalities The Power of the Dead—We often keep the dead alive through memory The Power of the Dead—We often keep the dead alive through memory Insanity—When faced with conflicts, we are pushed to madness Insanity—When faced with conflicts, we are pushed to madness