The Life and Times of EDGAR ALLAN POE

The Life and Times ofEDGAR ALLAN POEThe Life and Times ofEDGAR ALLAN POE

Grayscale picture of Poe, with signature - 46.5K interlaced GIF

Born January 19th of 1809Born January 19th of 1809

Son of actress Eliza Poe andactor David Poe Jr. (Seepicture of his mother to theright!)Son of actress Eliza Poe andactor David Poe Jr. (Seepicture of his mother to theright!)

Both parents died oftuberculosis by the timeEdgar was three years old.He had a sister and a brotherBoth parents died oftuberculosis by the timeEdgar was three years old.He had a sister and a brother

Adopted by theatre fans ofhis parents….John andFanny Allan. They were verywealthy, and Fanny, who wasadopted herself, wanted toadopt Edgar.Adopted by theatre fans ofhis parents….John andFanny Allan. They were verywealthy, and Fanny, who wasadopted herself, wanted toadopt Edgar.

The Allans moved andlived in England for 5years, and Edgarattended school.The Allans moved andlived in England for 5years, and Edgarattended school.

In 1826 he attended theUniversity of VirginiaIn 1826 he attended theUniversity of Virginia

He gambled and drank ALOT!!!He gambled and drank ALOT!!!

Edgar was desperate formoney to pay hisgambling debts, but JohnAllan was tired of bailinghim out….and refused!!!Edgar was desperate formoney to pay hisgambling debts, but JohnAllan was tired of bailinghim out….and refused!!!

Edgar was forced to leave the university after only oneyear.Edgar was forced to leave the university after only oneyear.

He wrote to his adopted father. “I have heard you say(when you thought I wasn’t listening and thereforemust have said it in earnest) that you had no affectionfor me.”He wrote to his adopted father. “I have heard you say(when you thought I wasn’t listening and thereforemust have said it in earnest) that you had no affectionfor me.”

Several hostile letters were sent between the two!Several hostile letters were sent between the two!

Edgar moved to BostonEdgar moved to Boston

Wrote some poetry and worked for a smallnewspaperWrote some poetry and worked for a smallnewspaper

In June of 1827, Edgar joined the US Army!In June of 1827, Edgar joined the US Army!

He used a fake name…Edgar A. PerryHe used a fake name…Edgar A. Perry

He did extremely well and his peers andsuperiors looked up to him! It was a time ofpeace in our country.He did extremely well and his peers andsuperiors looked up to him! It was a time ofpeace in our country.

Edgar decided after a couple of years that hewanted to leave the army. His lieutenant onlyagreed if he reconciled with the Allan family.Edgar had told him his true life story.Edgar decided after a couple of years that hewanted to leave the army. His lieutenant onlyagreed if he reconciled with the Allan family.Edgar had told him his true life story.

Edgar wrote John AllanEdgar wrote John Allan

And heard nothing backAnd heard nothing back

He wrote again…He wrote again…

No reply. It was Edgar’s20th birthday.No reply. It was Edgar’s20th birthday.

What Edgar did notknow was that FannyAllan was on her deathbed and desperatelywanted to see Edgar.John finally sent for him,but it was too late.What Edgar did notknow was that FannyAllan was on her deathbed and desperatelywanted to see Edgar.John finally sent for him,but it was too late.

Fanny was dead.Fanny was dead.

Fanny’s death brought Edgar and John closer.John even bought Edgar a new set of clothes, aknife, a hat, and a pair of gloves.Fanny’s death brought Edgar and John closer.John even bought Edgar a new set of clothes, aknife, a hat, and a pair of gloves.

Although he was still sad about Fanny’s death,he was happy about the reconciliation with JohnAllan. He wrote, “I am much happier than Ihave been for a long time.”Although he was still sad about Fanny’s death,he was happy about the reconciliation with JohnAllan. He wrote, “I am much happier than Ihave been for a long time.”

He went to live in Richmond with his aunt andcousin, Muddy and Virginia. Edgar worked forthe paper and supported his poor aunt and herdaughter, Virginia ClemmHe went to live in Richmond with his aunt andcousin, Muddy and Virginia. Edgar worked forthe paper and supported his poor aunt and herdaughter, Virginia Clemm

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Eventually, Edgar andVirginia lived in Philadelphiaand then in New York City.Eventually, Edgar andVirginia lived in Philadelphiaand then in New York City.

Edgar worked for the paperand educated Virginia athome.Edgar worked for the paperand educated Virginia athome.

He deeply loved and reveredher!He deeply loved and reveredher!

Unfortunately, she began tofeel ill…to cough and evenbleed from her mouth whenshe would singUnfortunately, she began tofeel ill…to cough and evenbleed from her mouth whenshe would sing

Their apartment was coldand drafty.Their apartment was coldand drafty.

Edgar Allan Poe Collection[Poem from Virginia Clemm Poe toEdgar Allan Poe]

:Ever with thee I wish to roam -Dearest my life is thine.Give me a cottage for my homeAnd a rich old cypress vine,Removed from the world with its sinand careAnd the tattling of many tongues.Love alone shall guide us when we arethere -Love shall heal my weakened lungs;And Oh; the tranquil hours we'll spend,Never wishing that others may see!Perfect ease we'll enjoy, withoutthinking to lendOurselves to the world and it's glee -Ever peaceful and blissful we'll be.Saturday February 14. 1846

Edgar wrote numerouspoems and shortstories…..but poetry was hisfirst loveEdgar wrote numerouspoems and shortstories…..but poetry was hisfirst love

Edgar was depressed aboutwatching his beloved Virginiasuffer! He began to drinkagain….Edgar was depressed aboutwatching his beloved Virginiasuffer! He began to drinkagain….

Virginia Clemm died in 1847.Edgar was devastated!!Virginia Clemm died in 1847.Edgar was devastated!!

He saved locks of her hair.This picture is actual hair!He saved locks of her hair.This picture is actual hair!

He stayed in New Yorkand lived with Mrs.Clemm in the samehouse where Virginiadied.He stayed in New Yorkand lived with Mrs.Clemm in the samehouse where Virginiadied.

He drank and suffered…He drank and suffered…

He took a boat toBaltimore where he wasfound unconscious onthe street on October 4th,1849 by a friend of his.He took a boat toBaltimore where he wasfound unconscious onthe street on October 4th,1849 by a friend of his.

He never regainedconsciousness and diedon October 9th.He never regainedconsciousness and diedon October 9th.

Although Poe’s life ended in despair anddisappointment, his writing has made himimmortal to many!Although Poe’s life ended in despair anddisappointment, his writing has made himimmortal to many!