edgar allan poe Essay -- essays research papers fc

Edgar Allan Poe was a nineteenth century author best known for his poetry and stories of terror, grief, revenge, and death. He based his stories on the influences of his childhood through much struggling. He finally achieved success at the end of his life. Edgar Allan Poe's parents were actors. His mother, Elizabeth Arnold, was the main attraction of the acting company. His father, David Poe, Jr., was a handsome but reckless man with a never ending compulsion to drink. When Edgar was still a baby, David Poe mysteriously deserted his family. His mother died shortly afterwards. Edgar Poe and his baby sister were then separated. Edgar was sent to live with Frances and John Allan by whom he felt neglected. He was in need of a maternal figure in his life. When the Allans' moved from to Virginia Edgar became infatuated with Mrs. Jane Standard, the mother of one of his classmates. He came to her when he felt unhappy at home.. He knew her for a year when she died at the age of 31, probably insane. Edgar suffered from her death and his behavior changed. He was just beginning to realize the power of his imagination and for a time he let his grief consume him (Magill's survey). Painful as this loss was , it eventually led to the creation of one of Poe's best-loved poems, " To Helen". In 1825 John Allan inherited a fortune from a wealthy uncle. Edgar was privately tutored to enter the University of Virginia. Edgar was accepted and went off to the University Of Virginia. He thrived in the unrestrictive university atmosphere. But John Allan would not give him enough money for his education. Poe turned to gambling and drinking (Gmoser). After the first term his college career was over. He was over two thousand in debt. John Allen refused to pay these debts or allow him to go back to school. In March of 1827 Poe went to Boston where he published his first book, using a false name. Tamerlane and Other Poems were published but only forty copies were printed. With little money and few friends Poe enlisted in the U.S. Army. .Poe did not like the army so he managed to get transferred to West Point. He did not do his work there so he was kicked out .He ended up going to live with relatives. Despite Poe's talent he was unable to achieve success in ... ... Annie and Ulalume. These poems also death with the theme of death. In Annabel Lee the narrator tells how he loved the maiden and how she loved him only. Then she died just like Virginia did. Poe was probably wishing he had died instead of the ones he loved. In Eldorado, Poe is telling how you should seek heaven when you are dead. Ulslume is a poem about the narrator going back to the tomb where he buried Ulalume a year ago. The narrator wants to know if the soul of the dead has left for the heaven. In these last poem's of Poe I feel that he wants to die and be with his loved ones. after Virginia died Poe had nothing to live for. After reading Poe's works you can see how his life had a great influence on his writings. If he had not suffered so much grief the brilliance of his dark imagination probably would have never come through. Works Cited 1)Lowen, Nancy. "Poe" 2)whasington square press. "Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe" 3)Magill's Survey of American Literature. dar Allan Poe 4)Edgar Allan Poe/The work of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849. http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/poe/Bio.html 5)Grolier Encyclopedia.