Fola Solarin

Mr. Strother

11/20/2010

The Life and Death of Edgar Allen Poe

Edgar Allen Poe, January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849, was an American writer,

poet, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best recognized for his tales

of mystery and the horror, like “The Raven” and “Mask of the Red Death”, Poe was one

of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of

the detective-fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre

of science fiction. He was the initial American writer to try to earn a living through

writing alone, ensuing in a financially difficult life, career, and eventually death. Only

after becoming an assistant editor at the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond,

Virginia, in 1835 did Poe's literary talents start to flourish. It was at this time in his life

that Poe fell in love with his 13-year-old cousin Virginia. Their marriage forced him to

find a source of income. When the editor of the Messenger offered employment, Poe

eagerly accepted. During this time Poe began to publish such trademark horror tales as

"The Tell-Tale Heart," and "The Pit and The Pendulum.” In the early months of 1847,

Poe’s young wife died of consumption. Poe’s life took a dark, depressing turn and

evidently so did his writing. After her death, he mourned for her by saying “Deep in earth

my love is lying and I must weep alone." On October 3, 1849, Poe was found on the

streets of Baltimore delirious, "in great distress, and... in need of immediate assistance.”

He was taken to the Washington College Hospital, where he died on Sunday, October 7,

1849, at 5:00 in the morning. All medical records, including his death certificate, have
been lost. The actual cause of death remains a mystery; from as early as 1872, alcoholism

was commonly believed to have been the cause.

1. "Poe, Edgar Allan (19 Jan 1809 – 7 Oct 1849)." The Crystal Reference

Encyclopedia. West Chiltington: Crystal Semantics, 2005. Credo

Reference. Web. 22 November 2010.

a. The information of Edgar Allen Poe was essential to the formation

of my piece

2. Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 3: Early Nineteenth Century - Edgar Allan Poe."

PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference

Guide. http://web.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap3/poe.html

Accessed11/22/10.

a. The information of Edgar Allen Poe was essential to the formation

of my piece.

3. Edgar Allan Poe, "Poetry by Edgar A. Poe," Edgar Allan Poe Society of

Baltimore, http://www.eapoe.org/works/poems/poetrya.htm, Accessed

11/22/10.

a. The information on Edgar Allen Poe was essential to the formation

of my piece.
 Question: What devastating circumstance caused the horror and disturbing plots

in his poems and short stories?

Answer: The death of his 13 year old wife that was also his cousin.