EDGAR ALLEN POE: THE POETNarrated and written by Sarah Milburn

POE’S LIFE

Born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts

Parents died before Poe was three years old Lived with foster parents in Richmond,

Virginia until left for school

POE’S LIFE CONTINUED

Went to School and accumulated large debts from gambling

Decided to leave school Enlisted in US Army for two years

POE’S LIFE CONTINUED

Published book Tamerlane and other Poems and “Dreams” in 1827

Foster mother dies in 1829

Poe enlists in West Point Military Academy

Second book Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems is published

Poe moves to Baltimore to live with Aunt Maria Clemm and her daughter, Victoria

POE’S LIFE CONTINUED

In 1833, Poe wins a contest for story “Message found in a Bottle”

Poe becomes editor and contributor of the Southern Literary messenger

In 1836 Poe marries Virginia and moves to New York City

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym published

The Raven and other Poems is published in 1845

Virginia dies in 1847 Poe turns to alcohol

and becomes engaged to Elmira Royster

In 1849, begins tour of poetry readings

POE’S DEATH

Arrived in Baltimore, Maryland Disappeared for a little bit, then was found in

the street unconscious outside of a well-known tavern

Sent to the Washington College Hospital in Baltimore, where he lapsed into a coma

On the third night of his stay, Poe went into a violent screaming rage

Poe died on October 7th, 1849

POE’S BURIAL PLACE

Original Burial Place of E.A. Poe

Insciption on site:Quoth the Raven, NevermoreOriginal Burial Place of

Edgar Allan PoeFromOctober 9, 1849UntilNovember 17, 1875

POE’S BURIAL PLACE CONTINUED

In 1875, during a dedication ceremony, Poe’s remains were moved from the back of the Old Westminster Burying Ground of Baltimore to the front of the Church

Poe’s remains were reunited with that of his late wife, Virginia and Aunt, Maria Clemm

On the Memorial, there is a bas-relief bust (a stone sculpture made from chipping away at a slab of rock to make a picture that stands out) of Poe on the front of the ‘new’ grave

People passing by will place pennies and roses on the grave in memory of Poe

THE POE TOASTER On January 19th, 1949 (Poe’s

birthday), a stranger dressed completely in black approached E.A. Poe’s gravestone

After placing three roses, a handwritten note, and a half finished bottle of cognac on the gravestone, after toasting the great poet, the stranger walked away, untouched

Since then, the tradition of the Poe Toaster has continued

However, in 2010, the Poe Toaster failed to show on the poet’s birthday, causing many people to believe that the Toaster had discontinued the tradition commemorating Poe’s 200th birthday in 2009

LIST OF BOOKS/POEMS

For a complete list of Edgar Allen Poe’s books, poems, novels, short stories, and essays, visit http://www.iblist.com/author22.htm

WORKS CITED "Edgar Allen Poe Cottage." Web. 24 Feb 2010.

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoguy504/4053677189/>. –Slide 2

"Edgar Allen Poe 2." Web. 22 Feb 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/spike55151/14939798/>. – Slide 6

"Edgar Allen Poe's Grave." Web. 24 Feb 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris930/3285787465/?addedcomment=1#comment72157623376871963>. - Slide 9

"Edgar Allen Poe's Original Grave." Web. 24 Feb 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmxphoto/3259247304/>. - Slide 7

Gill, N.S. "Bas-Relief Sculpture." About.com: Ancient/Classical History. 2010. About.com, a part of The New York Times Company, Web. 22 Feb 2010. <"Edgar Allen Poe Cottage." Web. 24 Feb 2010. .>.

Giordano Robert. "A short biography of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)." 27 June 2005. 17 February 2010 http://www.poestories.com/biography.php

"Green Army Boy." Web. 27 Feb 2010. <http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6531431/2/istockphoto_6531431-green-army-boy.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/concepts-and-ideas/character-traits/6531431-green-army-boy.php%3Fid%3D6531431&usg=__IiqInNjbivIIxYxf0VktiD34jv4=&h=380&w=380&sz=34&hl=en&start=12&itbs=1&tbnid=z4-hNjFSoIj-cM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcartoon%2Barmy%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1>. – Slide 3

Merriman, C.D. "Edgar Allen Poe." (2000-2010): n. pag. Web. 15 Feb 2010. <http://www.online-literature.com/poe/>.

"Poe Toaster." Web. 24 Feb 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/simps/30578433/>. - Slide 10

Rowlett, Curt. "The Tale of The Poe Toaster." The Tale of The Poe Toaster. 2010. Web. 22 Feb 2010. <http://labyrinth13.com/Poe_Toaster.htm>.

Special thanks to Curt Rowlett, author of Labyrinth13