edgar allan poe
TRANSCRIPT
Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe
1809-18491809-1849
His Family and Tragic LifeHis Family and Tragic Life Born in BostonBorn in Boston The son of traveling The son of traveling
actorsactors Tragic and unhappy lifeTragic and unhappy life
Tragic and Unhappy LifeTragic and Unhappy Life Mother died, father deserted Mother died, father deserted
him at the age of twohim at the age of two adopted by Mr. and Mrs. adopted by Mr. and Mrs.
John AllanJohn Allan constant disagreements with constant disagreements with
his step-fatherhis step-father
. . .continued. . .continued Studied briefly at the Studied briefly at the
University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia Drinking and gambling Drinking and gambling
difficulties kept him from difficulties kept him from continuing at UVAcontinuing at UVA
. . .continued. . .continued Received an appointment Received an appointment
to West Point, but he to West Point, but he provoked his own dismissalprovoked his own dismissal
Caused a final separation Caused a final separation between Poe and his step-between Poe and his step-fatherfather
. . .continued. . .continuedIn 1836 married his 14 In 1836 married his 14
year old cousin, Virginiayear old cousin, VirginiaLast 12 years of life Last 12 years of life
worked as a journalist, worked as a journalist, editor, and creative writereditor, and creative writer
. . . continued. . . continued Lived in poverty stricken Lived in poverty stricken
conditionsconditions In 1846 wife died after a In 1846 wife died after a
long illnesslong illness
. . . continued. . . continuedDied in Baltimore after Died in Baltimore after
he was found in a he was found in a drunken stupordrunken stupor
Died a poor manDied a poor man
Poe’s WorkPoe’s WorkKnown for:Known for:
Tales of Tales of mystery and mystery and terror storiesterror stories
Introducing Introducing the modern the modern detective detective storystory
Short StoriesShort Stories The Tell-Tale The Tell-Tale
HeartHeart The Cask of The Cask of
AmontilladoAmontillado The Black Cat, The Black Cat, The Pit and The Pit and
The PendulumThe Pendulum
Just a Few TitlesJust a Few Titles Poems: Poems:
The RavenThe Raven Annabel LeeAnnabel Lee To HelenTo Helen LenoreLenore
AddictionAddiction Sometimes strange special Sometimes strange special
effects have been linked to his effects have been linked to his addiction to opiumaddiction to opium
Addiction not uncommon in the Addiction not uncommon in the 1800’s, because of frequent 1800’s, because of frequent use of laudanum, an opium use of laudanum, an opium based medicine, to treat based medicine, to treat headaches and stomach painsheadaches and stomach pains
AllusionAllusion Reference to a famous historical Reference to a famous historical
or literary figure or eventor literary figure or event Best sources are literature, Best sources are literature,
history, Greek myth, and the history, Greek myth, and the BibleBible
Serves to explain or clarify or Serves to explain or clarify or enhance whatever subjectenhance whatever subject
Gothic ElementsGothic Elements supernatural horrors and an supernatural horrors and an
atmosphere of unknown terror atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the actionpervades the action
High emotion, sentimentalism, but High emotion, sentimentalism, but also pronounced anger, surprise, and also pronounced anger, surprise, and especially terror especially terror
use of words indicating fear, mystery, use of words indicating fear, mystery, etc.: apparition, devil, ghost, etc.: apparition, devil, ghost, haunted, terror, fright, faintinghaunted, terror, fright, fainting
SymbolSymbol
Something that is itself and yet Something that is itself and yet also represents something elsealso represents something else
Universal symbols embody Universal symbols embody universally recognizable meanings universally recognizable meanings
Invested symbols are given Invested symbols are given symbolic meaning by the way an symbolic meaning by the way an author uses them in a literary workauthor uses them in a literary work
You will identify how Poe You will identify how Poe uses allusion, gothic uses allusion, gothic elements, and symbols in elements, and symbols in “The Pit and the “The Pit and the Pendulum.”Pendulum.”