Edgar Allan Poe
This daguerreotype of Poe was taken in 1848 when he was 39, a year before his death. The daguerreotype (original French daguerréotype) is an early type of Photograph, developed by Louis Daguerre, in which the image is exposed directly
Born	January 19, 1809(1809-01-19) Boston, Massachusetts United States
Died	October 7, 1849 (aged 40) Baltimore, Maryland United States
Occupation	Poet, short story writer, editor, literary critic
Genres	Horror fiction, Crime fiction, Detective fiction
Spouse(s)	Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe
Signature

Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American poet, short-story writer, editor and literary critic, and is considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The short story is a literary genre of Fictional Prose Narrative that tends to be more concise and to the point than longer works of fiction such A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms Editing Language, Images or Sound through correction condensation organization and other modifications in various media Literary criticism is the study discussion evaluation and interpretation of Literature. Romanticism is a complex artistic literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective-fiction genre. Macabre is a quality of certain artistic or literary works characterized by a grim or ghastly atmosphere Detective fiction is a branch of Crime fiction in which a Detective (or detectives either professional or amateur investigate a crime usually Murder He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. ^[1] He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career. ^[2]

Born as Edgar Poe in Boston, Massachusetts, Poe's parents died when he was young. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan, of Richmond, Virginia, but they never formally adopted him. This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state After spending a short period at the University of Virginia and briefly attempting a military career, Poe and the Allans parted ways. The University of Virginia (also called UVa, UVA, Mr Jefferson's University, or The University) is a highly selective public research Poe's publishing career began humbly, with an anonymous collection of poems, Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827), credited only to "a Bostonian". Tamerlane and Other Poems was the first published collection of poems by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1827

Poe switched his focus to prose and spent the next several years working for literary journals and periodicals, becoming known for his own style of literary criticism. His work forced him to move between several cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The City of New York In Baltimore in 1835, he married Virginia Clemm, his 13-year-old cousin. Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe (born Virginia Eliza Clemm) (August 22 1822 &ndash January 30 1847 was the wife of Edgar Allan Poe. In January 1845, Poe published his poem "The Raven" to instant success. " The Raven " is a narrative poem by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in January 1845 His wife died of tuberculosis two years later. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common He began planning to produce his own journal, The Penn (later renamed The Stylus), though he died before it could be produced. The Stylus, originally intended to be named The Penn, was a would-be periodical owned and edited by Edgar Allan Poe. On October 7, 1849, at age 40, Poe died in Baltimore; the cause of his death is unknown and has been attributed to alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis, and other agents. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Cholera, sometimes known as Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera, is an infectious Gastroenteritis caused by the Bacterium Heart disease is an Umbrella term for a variety for different diseases affecting the Heart. Rabies (from rabies “madness rage fury” Also known as “ hydrophobia ” is a viral Zoonotic neuroinvasive disease that ^[3]

Poe and his works influenced literature in the United States and around the world, as well as in specialized fields, such as cosmology and cryptography. Cosmology (from Greek grc κοσμολογία - grc κόσμος kosmos, "universe" and grc -λογία -logia) is study Cryptography (or cryptology; from Greek grc κρυπτός kryptos, "hidden secret" and grc γράφω gráphō, "I write" Poe and his work appear throughout popular culture in literature, music, films, and television. A number of his homes are dedicated museums today.

Contents 1 Life and career 1.1 Early life 1.2 Military career 1.3 Publishing career 2 Death 2.1 Griswold's "Memoir" 3 Literary style and themes 3.1 Genres 3.2 Literary theory 4 Legacy 4.1 Literary influence 4.2 Physics and cosmology 4.3 Cryptography 5 Poe in popular culture 5.1 Poe as a character 5.2 Preserved homes, landmarks, and museums 5.3 Poe Toaster 6 Selected list of works 7 See also 8 References 8.1 Notes 8.2 General references 9 External links

Life and career

Early life

Born Edgar Poe in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809, the second child of actress Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe and actor David Poe, Jr. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Elizabeth Arnold Poe (1787–1811 was a English -born American actress and the mother of the American author Edgar Allan Poe. He had an elder brother, William Henry Leonard Poe, and a younger sister, Rosalie Poe. William Henry Leonard Poe, often referred to as Henry Poe (January 30 1807 – August 1 1831 was a sailor amateur poet and the older brother of Edgar Allan Poe ^[4] Edgar may have been named after a character in William Shakespeare's King Lear, a play the couple was performing in 1809. William Shakespeare ( baptised King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606 and is considered one of his greatest works ^[5] His father abandoned their family in 1810,^[6] and his mother died a year later from consumption. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common Poe was then taken into the home of John Allan, a successful Scottish merchant in Richmond, Virginia, who dealt in a variety of goods including tobacco, cloth, wheat, tombstones, and slaves. This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another ^[7] The Allans served as a foster family but never formally adopted Poe,^[8] though they gave him the name "Edgar Allan Poe". ^[9]

The Allan family had Poe baptized in the Episcopal Church in 1812. The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. John Allan alternately spoiled and aggressively disciplined his foster son. ^[9] The family, including Poe and Allan's wife, Frances Valentine Allan, sailed to England in 1815. Poe attended the grammar school in Irvine, Scotland (where John Allan was born) for a short period in 1815, before rejoining the family in London in 1816. Irvine ( Gaelic: Irbhinn) is a coastal New town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. He studied at a boarding school in Chelsea until summer 1817. Chelsea is an area of south-west London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along He was subsequently entered at the Reverend John Bransby’s Manor House School at Stoke Newington, then a suburb four miles (6 km) north of London. Note For an area with a similar name see Newington, in the London Borough of Southwark. ^[10]

Poe moved back with the Allans to Richmond, Virginia in 1820. In 1825, John Allan's friend and business benefactor William Galt, said to be the wealthiest man in Richmond, died and left Allan several acres of real estate. The inheritance was estimated at $750,000. By summer 1825, Allan celebrated his expansive wealth by purchasing a two-story brick home named Moldavia. ^[11] Poe may have become engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster before he registered at the one-year old University of Virginia in February 1826 to study languages. Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton (1810 - 1888 was a childhood sweetheart of Edgar Allan Poe who would become engaged to him right before his death in 1849 The University of Virginia (also called UVa, UVA, Mr Jefferson's University, or The University) is a highly selective public research ^[12] The university, in its infancy, was established on the ideals of its founder, Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence It had strict rules against gambling, horses, guns, tobacco and alcohol, but these rules were generally ignored. Jefferson had enacted a system of student self-government, allowing students to choose their own studies, make their own arrangements for boarding, and report all wrongdoing to the faculty. The unique system was still in chaos, and there was a high drop-out rate. ^[13] During his time there, Poe lost touch with Royster and also became estranged from his foster father over gambling debts. Poe claimed that Allan had not given him sufficient money to register for classes, purchase texts, and procure and furnish a dormitory. Allan did send additional money and clothes, but Poe's debts increased. ^[14] Poe gave up on the university after a year, and, not feeling welcome in Richmond, especially when he learned that his sweetheart Royster had married Alexander Shelton, he traveled to Boston in April 1827, sustaining himself with odd jobs as a clerk and newspaper writer. ^[15] At some point he started using the pseudonym Henri Le Rennet. A pseudonym is a fictitious alternative to a person's legal name (see Alias) ^[16]

Military career

Unable to support himself, on May 27, 1827, Poe enlisted in the United States Army as a private. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Using the name "Edgar A. Perry", he claimed he was 22 years old even though he was 18. ^[17] He first served at Fort Independence in Boston Harbor for five dollars a month. Fort Independence is a granite Fortress that provided harbor defenses for Boston Massachusetts, USA. The Port of Boston is a major Seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the City of Boston. ^[15] That same year, he released his first book, a 40-page collection of poetry, Tamerlane and Other Poems, attributed with the byline "by a Bostonian". Tamerlane and Other Poems was the first published collection of poems by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1827 Only 50 copies were printed, and the book received virtually no attention. ^[18] Poe's regiment was posted to Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina and traveled by ship on the brig Waltham on November 8, 1827. Fort Moultrie is the name of a series of forts on Sullivan's Island South Carolina, built Charleston is a city in Charleston county in the US state of South Carolina. Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Poe was promoted to "artificer", an enlisted tradesman who prepared shells for artillery, and had his monthly pay doubled. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine ^[19] After serving for two years and attaining the rank of Sergeant Major for Artillery (the highest rank a noncommissioned officer can achieve), Poe sought to end his five-year enlistment early. He revealed his real name and his circumstances to his commanding officer, Lieutenant Howard. The commanding officer ( CO) is the officer in command of a Military unit. Howard would only allow Poe to be discharged if he reconciled with John Allan and wrote a letter to Allan, who was unsympathetic. A military discharge is given when a member of the Armed forces is released from his or her obligation to serve Several months passed and pleas to Allan were ignored; Allan may not have written to Poe even to make him aware of his foster mother's illness. Frances Allan died on February 28, 1829, and Poe visited the day after her burial. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule For the game see 1829 (board game. Year 1829 ( MDCCCXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display Perhaps softened by his wife's death, John Allan agreed to support Poe's attempt to be discharged in order to receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, ^[20]

Poe finally was discharged on April 15, 1829, after securing a replacement to finish his enlisted term for him. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English For the game see 1829 (board game. Year 1829 ( MDCCCXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display ^[21] Before entering West Point, Poe moved back to Baltimore for a time, to stay with his widowed aunt Maria Clemm, her daughter, Virginia Eliza Clemm (Poe's first cousin), his brother Henry, and his invalid grandmother Elizabeth Cairnes Poe. Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe (born Virginia Eliza Clemm) (August 22 1822 &ndash January 30 1847 was the wife of Edgar Allan Poe. ^[22] Meanwhile, Poe published his second book, Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems, in Baltimore in 1829. ^[23]

Poe traveled to West Point and matriculated as a cadet on July 1, 1830. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display ^[24] In October 1830, John Allan married his second wife, Louisa Patterson. ^[25] The marriage, and bitter quarrels with Poe over the children born to Allan out of affairs, led to the foster father finally disowning Poe. ^[26] Poe decided to leave West Point by purposely getting court-martialed. A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a Military court. These military courts can determine Punishments for members of the Military subject On February 8, 1831, he was tried for gross neglect of duty and disobedience of orders for refusing to attend formations, classes, or church. Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Poe tactically pled not guilty to induce dismissal, knowing he would be found guilty. ^[27]

He left for New York in February 1831, and released a third volume of poems, simply titled Poems. The book was financed with help from his fellow cadets at West Point, many of whom donated 75 cents to the cause, raising a total of $170. They may have been expecting verses similar to the satirical ones Poe had been writing about commanding officers. ^[28] Printed by Elam Bliss of New York, it was labeled as "Second Edition" and included a page saying, "To the U. S. Corps of Cadets this volume is respectfully dedicated. " The book once again reprinted the long poems "Tamerlane" and "Al Aaraaf" but also six previously unpublished poems including early versions of "To Helen", "Israfel", and "The City in the Sea". " To Helen " is the first of two poems to carry that name written by Edgar Allan Poe. This article lists all known poems by American author and critic Edgar Allan Poe ( January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) " The City in the Sea " is a Poem by Edgar Allan Poe. ^[29] He returned to Baltimore, to his aunt, brother and cousin, in March 1831. His elder brother Henry, who had been in ill health in part due to problems with alcoholism, died on August 1, 1831. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a ^[30]

Publishing career

After his brother's death, Poe began more earnest attempts to start his career as a writer. He chose a difficult time in American publishing to do so. ^[31] He was the first well-known American to try to live by writing alone^[2][32] and was hampered by the lack of an international copyright law. Copyright is a legal concept enacted by Governments, giving the creator of an original work of authorship Exclusive rights to control its distribution usually for ^[33] Publishers often pirated copies of British works rather than paying for new work by Americans. ^[32] The industry was also particularly hurt by the Panic of 1837. The Panic of 1837 was a Panic in the United States built on a speculative fever ^[34] Despite a booming growth in American periodicals around this time period, fueled in part by new technology, many did not last beyond a few issues^[35] and publishers often refused to pay their writers or paid them much later than they promised. ^[36] Poe, throughout his attempts at pursuing a successful literary career, would be forced to constantly make humiliating pleas for money and other assistance for the rest of his life. ^[37]

After his early attempts at poetry, Poe had turned his attention to prose. He placed a few stories with a Philadelphia publication and began work on his only drama, Politian. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Politian (1835 is the only play known to have been written by Edgar Allan Poe, composed in 1835 but never completed. The Saturday Visitor, a Baltimore paper, awarded Poe a prize in October 1833 for his short story "MS. Found in a Bottle". " MS Found in a Bottle " is a Short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. ^[38] The story brought him to the attention of John P. Kennedy, a Baltimorian of considerable means. John Pendleton Kennedy (October 25 1795 &ndash August 18 1870 was an American novelist and Whig politician who served as United States Secretary of the Navy from July He helped Poe place some of his stories, and introduced him to Thomas W. White, editor of the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond. The Southern Literary Messenger was a Periodical published in Richmond, Virginia, from 1834 until June 1864. This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Poe became assistant editor of the periodical in August 1835;^[39] however, within a few weeks, he was discharged after being found drunk repeatedly. ^[40] Returning to Baltimore, Poe secretly married Virginia, his cousin, on September 22, 1835. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common She was 13 at the time, though she is listed on the marriage certificate as being 21. ^[41] Reinstated by White after promising good behavior, Poe went back to Richmond with Virginia and her mother. He remained at the Messenger until January 1837. During this period, its circulation increased from 700 to 3,500. ^[4] He published several poems, book reviews, criticism, and stories in the paper. On May 16, 1836, he had a second wedding ceremony in Richmond with Virginia Clemm, this time in public. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap ^[42]

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym was published and widely reviewed in 1838. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket is Edgar Allan Poe 's only complete Novel, published in 1838. In the summer of 1839, Poe became assistant editor of Burton's Gentleman's Magazine. Burton's Gentleman's Magazine or more simply Burton's Magazine, was a literary publication founded in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1837 He published numerous articles, stories, and reviews, enhancing his reputation as a trenchant critic that he had established at the Southern Literary Messenger. Also in 1839, the collection Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque was published in two volumes, though he made little money off of it and it received mixed reviews. Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque is a collection of previously-published short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1840. ^[43] Poe left Burton's after about a year and found a position as assistant at Graham's Magazine. Graham's Magazine was a nineteenth century Periodical based in Philadelphia established by George Rex Graham. ^[44]

In June 1840, Poe published a prospectus announcing his intentions to start his own journal, The Stylus. The Stylus, originally intended to be named The Penn, was a would-be periodical owned and edited by Edgar Allan Poe. ^[45] Originally, Poe intended to call the journal The Penn, as it would have been based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the June 6, 1840 issue of Philadelphia's Saturday Evening Post, Poe bought advertising space for his prospectus: "Prospectus of the Penn Magazine, a Monthly Literary journal to be edited and published in the city of Philadelphia by Edgar A. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Saturday Evening Post was a weekly Magazine published in the United States from August 4, 1821 to February 8, Poe. "^[46] The journal would never be produced before Poe's death. Around this time, he attempted to secure a position with the Tyler administration, claiming he was a member of the Whig Party. John Tyler Jr (March 29 1790 January 18 1862 was the tenth President of the United States (1841-1845 and the first ever to obtain that office via succession The Whig Party was a Political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. ^[47] He hoped to be appointed to the Custom House in Philadelphia with help from President Tyler's son Robert,^[48] an acquaintance of Poe's friend Frederick Thomas. A Custom House or Customs House was a building housing the offices for the government officials who processed the paperwork for the import and export of goods into and out ^[49] Poe failed to show up for a meeting with Thomas to discuss the appointment in mid-September 1842, claiming to be sick, though Thomas believed he was drunk. ^[50] Though he was promised an appointment, all positions were filled by others. ^[51]

One evening in January 1842, Virginia showed the first signs of consumption, now known as tuberculosis, while singing and playing the piano. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common Poe described it as breaking a blood vessel in her throat. ^[52] She only partially recovered. Poe began to drink more heavily under the stress of Virginia's illness. He left Graham's and attempted to find a new position, for a time angling for a government post. He returned to New York, where he worked briefly at the Evening Mirror before becoming editor of the Broadway Journal and, later, sole owner. The Broadway Journal was a short-lived New York City -based Periodical founded by Charles Frederick Briggs and John Bisco in 1844 ^[53] There he alienated himself from other writers by publicly accusing Henry Wadsworth Longfellow of plagiarism, though Longfellow never responded. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27 1807 &ndash March 24 1882 was an American educator and Poet whose works include " Paul Revere's Ride " Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work ^[54] On January 29, 1845, his poem "The Raven" appeared in the Evening Mirror and became a popular sensation. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1845 ( MDCCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common " The Raven " is a narrative poem by the American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in January 1845 Though it made Poe a household name almost instantly,^[55] he only was paid $9 for its publication. ^[56]

The Broadway Journal failed in 1846. ^[53] Poe moved to a cottage in the Fordham section of The Bronx, New York. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, sometimes called simply Poe Cottage, is the former home of American writer Edgar Allan Poe located on Kingsbridge Road Fordham is a low income residential neighborhood geographically located in the west Bronx. That home, known today as the "Poe Cottage", is on the southeast corner of the Grand Concourse and Kingsbridge Road. The Grand Boulevard and Concourse (almost universally referred to as the Grand Concourse) is likely the most famous street in the borough of The Bronx in Virginia died there on January 30, 1847. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1847 ( MDCCCXLVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common ^[57] Biographers and critics often suggest Poe's frequent theme of the "death of a beautiful woman" stems from the repeated loss of women throughout his life, including his wife. ^[58]

Increasingly unstable after his wife's death, Poe attempted to court the poet Sarah Helen Whitman, who lived in Providence, Rhode Island. Early life She was born in Providence Rhode Island on January 19 1803 - the same day as Poe though a few years before him Their engagement failed, purportedly because of Poe's drinking and erratic behavior. However, there is also strong evidence that Whitman's mother intervened and did much to derail their relationship. ^[59] Poe then returned to Richmond and resumed a relationship with a childhood sweetheart, Sarah Elmira Royster. ^[60]

Death

Main article: Death of Edgar Allan Poe

On October 3, 1849, Poe was found on the streets of Baltimore delirious, "in great distress, and. See also Edgar Allan Poe The death of Edgar Allan Poe on October 7 1849 has remained mysterious the circumstances leading up to it are uncertain and the cause of death Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common . . in need of immediate assistance", according to the man who found him, Joseph W. Walker. ^[61] He was taken to the Washington College Hospital, where he died on Sunday, October 7, 1849, at 5:00 in the morning. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[62] Poe was never coherent long enough to explain how he came to be in his dire condition, and, oddly, was wearing clothes that were not his own. Poe is said to have repeatedly called out the name "Reynolds" on the night before his death, though it is unclear to whom he was referring. Some sources say Poe's final words were "Lord help my poor soul. "^[62] All medical records, including his death certificate, have been lost. ^[63] Newspapers at the time reported Poe's death as "congestion of the brain" or "cerebral inflammation", common euphemisms for deaths from disreputable causes such as alcoholism. A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener or in the case of doublespeak ^[64] However, the actual cause of death remains a mystery;^[65] from as early as 1872, cooping was commonly believed to have been the cause,^[66] and speculation has included delirium tremens, heart disease, epilepsy, syphilis, meningeal inflammation^[67] and cholera. Cooping was a practice by which unwilling participants were forced to vote often several times over for a particular candidate in an election Delirium tremens (colloquially the DTs, " the horrors " " the fear "" the shakes "" jazz hands "" Heart disease is an Umbrella term for a variety for different diseases affecting the Heart. Epilepsy is a common chronic Neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Syphilis is a Sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochetal Bacterium Treponema pallidum pallidum. Meningitis is Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the Brain and Spinal cord, known collectively as the Meninges. Cholera, sometimes known as Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera, is an infectious Gastroenteritis caused by the Bacterium ^[68]

Griswold's "Memoir"

The day Edgar Allan Poe was buried, a long obituary appeared in the New York Tribune signed "Ludwig". The New York Tribune was an American newspaper first established by Horace Greeley in 1841 which was long considered one of the leading Newspapers in the It was soon published throughout the country. The piece began, "Edgar Allan Poe is dead. He died in Baltimore the day before yesterday. This announcement will startle many, but few will be grieved by it. "^[69] "Ludwig" was soon identified as Rufus Wilmot Griswold, an editor, critic and anthologist who had borne a grudge against Poe since 1842. Rufus Wilmot Griswold (February 13 1812 – August 27 1857 was an American anthologist, editor, Poet, and Critic. Griswold somehow became Poe's literary executor and attempted to destroy his enemy's reputation after his death. ^[70]

Rufus Griswold wrote a biographical article of Poe called "Memoir of the Author", which he included in an 1850 volume of the collected works. Griswold depicted Poe as a depraved, drunk, drug-addled madman and included Poe's letters as evidence. ^[70] Many of his claims were either outright lies or distorted half-truths. For example, it is now known that Poe was not a drug addict. ^[71] Griswold's book was denounced by those who knew Poe well,^[72] but it became a popularly accepted one. This occurred in part because it was the only full biography available and was widely reprinted and in part because readers thrilled at the thought of reading works by an "evil" man. ^[73] Letters that Griswold presented as proof of this depiction of Poe were later revealed as forgeries. Forgery is the process of making adapting or imitating objects statistics or documents (see False document) with the intent to deceive. ^[74]

Literary style and themes

Genres

Poe's best known fiction works are Gothic,^[75] a genre he followed to appease the public taste. Gothic fiction (sometimes referred to as Gothic horror) is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. ^[76] His most recurring themes deal with questions of death, including its physical signs, the effects of decomposition, concerns of premature burial, the reanimation of the dead, and mourning. Mourning is in the simplest sense synonymous with Grief over the Death of someone ^[77] Many of his works are generally considered part of the dark romanticism genre, a literary reaction to transcendentalism,^[78] which Poe strongly disliked. For the Primordial demo see Dark Romanticism (Primordial album. Transcendentalism was a group of new ideas in Literature, Religion, Culture, and Philosophy that emerged in New England in the ^[79] He referred to followers of the movement as "Frogpondians" after the pond on Boston Common. Boston Common is a central Public park in Boston, Massachusetts. ^[80] and ridiculed their writings as "metaphor-run", lapsing into "obscurity for obscurity's sake" or "mysticism for mysticism's sake. Metaphor (from the Greek: μεταφορά - metaphora, meaning "transfer" is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects "^[81] Poe once wrote in a letter to Thomas Holley Chivers that he did not dislike Transcendentalists, "only the pretenders and sophists among them. Thomas Holley Chivers (October 18 1807 – December 18 1858 was an American doctor-turned- poet from the state of Georgia. "^[82]

Beyond horror, Poe also wrote satires, humor tales, and hoaxes. Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and Performing arts In satire human A hoax is a deliberate attempt to Dupe, Deceive or trick an audience into believing or accepting that something is real when in fact it is not or that For comic effect, he used irony and ludicrous extravagance, often in an attempt to liberate the reader from cultural conformity. ^[76] In fact, "Metzengerstein", the first story that Poe is known to have published,^[83] and his first foray into horror, was originally intended as a burlesque satirizing the popular genre. " Metzengerstein," also called " Metzengerstein A Tale In Imitation of the German," was the first Short story by American writer and poet Edgar Burlesque is a genre of entertainment also known as Travesty. ^[84] Poe also reinvented science fiction, responding in his writing to emerging technologies such as hot air balloons in "The Balloon-Hoax". The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying Flight technology " The Balloon-Hoax " is the title now used for a newspaper article written by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1844 ^[85]

Poe wrote much of his work using themes specifically catered for mass market tastes. ^[86] To that end, his fiction often included elements of popular pseudosciences such as phrenology^[87] and physiognomy. Pseudoscience is defined as a body of knowledge methodology belief or practice that is claimed to be Scientific or made to appear scientific but does not adhere to the Phrenology (from Greek: φρήν phrēn, "mind" and λόγος Logos, "knowledge" is a defunct field of study once Physiognomy ( Gk physis, nature and gnomon, judge interpreter is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance especially ^[88]

Literary theory

Poe's writing reflects his literary theories, which he presented in his criticism and also in essays such as "The Poetic Principle". " The Poetic Principle " is an Essay by Edgar Allan Poe, written near the end of his life and published posthumously in 1850 (Poe died in 1849 ^[89] He disliked didacticism^[90] and allegory,^[91] though he believed that meaning in literature should be an undercurrent just beneath the surface. Didacticism is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in Literature and other types of Art. An allegory (from αλλος allos "other" and el αγορευειν agoreuein "to speak in public" is a figurative mode of representation Works with obvious meanings, he wrote, cease to be art. ^[92] He believed that quality work should be brief and focus on a specific single effect. ^[89] To that end, he believed that the writer should carefully calculate every sentiment and idea. ^[93] In "The Philosophy of Composition", an essay in which Poe describes his method in writing "The Raven", he claims to have strictly followed this method. " The Philosophy of Composition " is an Essay written by Edgar Allan Poe that elucidates a theory about how good writers write when they write well It has been questioned, however, if he really followed this system. T. S. Eliot said: "It is difficult for us to read that essay without reflecting that if Poe plotted out his poem with such calculation, he might have taken a little more pains over it: the result hardly does credit to the method. Thomas Stearns Eliot, OM (September 26 1888 – January 4 1965 was a poet Dramatist, and Literary critic. "^[94] Biographer Joseph Wood Krutch described the essay as "a rather highly ingenious exercise in the art of rationalization". ^[95]

Legacy

Literary influence

Main article: Edgar Allan Poe's literary influence

During his lifetime, Poe was mostly recognized as a literary critic. Fellow critic James Russell Lowell called him "the most discriminating, philosophical, and fearless critic upon imaginative works who has written in America", though he questioned if he occasionally used prussic acid instead of ink. James Russell Lowell (February 22 1819 – August 12 1891 was an American Romantic poet critic editor and Diplomat. Hydrogen cyanide is a Chemical compound with Chemical formula HCN ^[96] Poe was also known as a writer of fiction and became one of the first American authors of the 19th century to become more popular in Europe than in the United States. ^[97] Poe is particularly respected in France, in part due to early translations by Charles Baudelaire. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Baudelaire's translations quickly became definitive renditions of Poe's work throughout Europe. ^[98]

Poe's early detective fiction tales starring the fictitious C. Auguste Dupin laid the groundwork for future detectives in literature. Detective fiction is a branch of Crime fiction in which a Detective (or detectives either professional or amateur investigate a crime usually Murder C Auguste Dupin is a fictional Detective created by Edgar Allan Poe. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said, "Each [of Poe's detective stories] is a root from which a whole literature has developed. Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930 was an Anglo-Scottish Author most noted for his stories about the . . . Where was the detective story until Poe breathed the breath of life into it?"^[99] The Mystery Writers of America have named their awards for excellence in the genre the "Edgars". Mystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers based in New York. The Edgar Allan Poe Awards (popularly called the Edgars) named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America. ^[100] Poe's work also influenced science fiction, notably Jules Verne, who wrote a sequel to Poe's novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket called The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, Le sphinx des glaces. Jules Gabriel Verne ( February 8 1828 &ndash March 24 1905) was a French Author who pioneered the science-fiction The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket is Edgar Allan Poe 's only complete Novel, published in 1838. ^[101] Science fiction author H. G. Wells noted, "Pym tells what a very intelligent mind could imagine about the south polar region a century ago. Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 &ndash 13 August 1946 He was an outspoken socialist and a pacifist, his later works becoming increasingly political "^[102]

Like many famous artists, Poe's works have spawned innumerable imitators. ^[103] One interesting trend among imitators of Poe, however, has been claims by clairvoyants or psychics to be "channeling" poems from Poe's spirit beyond the grave. Clairvoyance (from 17th century French with clair meaning "clear" and voyance meaning "visibility" is the apparent ability to gain The word psychic (ˈsaɪkɨk from the Greek psychikos—"of the soul mental" refers to the claimed ability to perceive things hidden from the normal senses One of the most notable of these was Lizzie Doten, who in 1863 published Poems from the Inner Life, in which she claimed to have "received" new compositions by Poe's spirit. The compositions were re-workings of famous Poe poems such as "The Bells", but which reflected a new, positive outlook. " The Bells " is a heavily onomatopoeic poem by Edgar Allan Poe which was not published until after his death in 1849. ^[104]

Even so, Poe has not received only praise. William Butler Yeats was generally critical of Poe, calling him "vulgar". ^[105] Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson reacted to "The Raven" by saying, "I see nothing in it"^[106] and derisively referred to Poe as "the jingle man". Transcendentalism was a group of new ideas in Literature, Religion, Culture, and Philosophy that emerged in New England in the Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25 1803 &ndash April 27 1882 was an American essayist philosopher poet and leader of the Transcendentalist movement in the early 19th century ^[107] Aldous Huxley wrote that Poe's writing "falls into vulgarity" by being "too poetical" - the equivalent of wearing a diamond ring on every finger. Aldous Leonard Huxley (26 July 1894 &ndash 22 November 1963 was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. ^[108]

Physics and cosmology

Eureka: A Prose Poem, an essay written in 1848, included a cosmological theory that presaged the big bang theory by 80 years,^[109] as well as the first plausible solution to Olbers' paradox. Eureka (1848 is a lengthy Non-fiction work by American author Edgar Allan Poe which he subtitled "A Prose Poem," though it has The Big Bang is the cosmological model of the Universe that is best supported by all lines of scientific evidence and Observation. Olbers' paradox, described by the German Astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers in 1823 (but not published until 1826 by Bode) and earlier by ^[110] Poe eschewed the scientific method in Eureka and instead wrote from pure intuition. Intuition is apparent ability to acquire knowledge without a clear inference or the use of reason ^[111] For this reason, he considered it a work of art, not science,^[111] but insisted that it was still true^[112] and considered it to be his career masterpiece. ^[113] Even so, Eureka is full of scientific errors. In particular, Poe's suggestions opposed Newtonian principles regarding the density and rotation of planets. Newton's laws of motion are three Physical laws which provide relationships between the Forces acting on a body and the motion of the ^[114]

Cryptography

Poe had a keen interest in the field of cryptography. Cryptography (or cryptology; from Greek grc κρυπτός kryptos, "hidden secret" and grc γράφω gráphō, "I write" He had placed a notice of his abilities in the Philadelphia paper Alexander's Weekly (Express) Messenger, inviting submissions of ciphers, which he proceeded to solve. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə In Cryptography, a cipher (or cypher) is an Algorithm for performing Encryption and Decryption &mdash a series of well-defined steps ^[115] In July 1841, Poe had published an essay called "A Few Words on Secret Writing" in Graham's Magazine. Graham's Magazine was a nineteenth century Periodical based in Philadelphia established by George Rex Graham. Realizing the public interest in the topic, he wrote "The Gold-Bug" incorporating ciphers as part of the story. " The Gold-Bug " is a Short story by Edgar Allan Poe, set on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina involving deciphering a secret message ^[116] Poe's success in cryptography relied not so much on his knowledge of that field (his method was limited to the simple substitution cryptogram), as on his knowledge of the magazine and newspaper culture. His keen analytical abilities, which were so evident in his detective stories, allowed him to see that the general public was largely ignorant of the methods by which a simple substitution cryptogram can be solved, and he used this to his advantage. ^[115] The sensation Poe created with his cryptography stunt played a major role in popularizing cryptograms in newspapers and magazines. ^[117]

Poe had an influence on cryptography beyond increasing public interest in his lifetime. William Friedman, America's foremost cryptologist, was heavily influenced by Poe. William Frederick Friedman ( September 24, 1891 &ndash November 12, 1969) was a US Army cryptologist. ^[118] Friedman's initial interest in cryptography came from reading "The Gold-Bug" as a child — interest he later put to use in deciphering Japan's PURPLE code during World War II. This article is about the Japanese cipher Purple also known as AN-1 (citation for AN-1 nomenclature for Purple? World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including ^[119]

Poe in popular culture

Poe as a character

Main articles: Edgar Allan Poe in popular culture and Edgar Allan Poe in television and film

The historical Edgar Allan Poe has appeared as a fictionalized character, often representing the "mad genius" or "tormented artist" and exploiting his personal struggles. Edgar Allan Poe has appeared in Popular culture as a character in books comics film and other media See also Edgar Allan Poe American poet and short story writer Edgar Allan Poe has had significant influence in television and film ^[120] Many such depictions also blend in with characters from his stories, suggesting Poe and his characters share identities. ^[121] Often, fictional depictions of Poe use his mystery-solving skills in such novels as The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl. The Poe Shadow is a novel by Matthew Pearl published by Random House. Matthew Pearl is an American Novelist and educator His debut The Dante Club, became a best-selling novel published in more than 40 countries ^[122]

Preserved homes, landmarks, and museums

No childhood home of Poe is still standing, including the Allan family's Moldavia estate. The oldest standing home in Richmond, the Old Stone House, is in use as the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, though Poe never lived there. The Edgar Allan Poe Museum is a museum located in Richmond, Virginia, dedicated to American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The collection includes many items Poe used during his time with the Allan family and also features several rare first printings of Poe works. The dorm room Poe is believed to have used while studying at the University of Virginia in 1826 is preserved and available for visits. Its upkeep is now overseen by a group of students and staff known as the Raven Society. The Raven Society is the University of Virginia 's oldest honorary society ^[123]

The earliest surviving home in which Poe lived is in Baltimore, preserved as the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum. The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, located on Amity St in Baltimore, Maryland, is the former home of American writer Edgar Allan Poe in the 1830s Poe is believed to have lived in the home at the age of 23 when he first lived with Maria Clemm and Virginia (as well as his grandmother and possibly his brother William Henry Leonard Poe). ^[124] It is open to the public and is also the home of the Edgar Allan Poe Society. Of the several homes that Poe, his wife Virginia, and his mother-in-law Maria rented in Philadelphia, only the last house has survived. The Spring Garden home, where the author lived in 1843–1844, is today preserved by the National Park Service as the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site is a preserved home once rented by American author Edgar Allan Poe, located in the Spring Garden neighborhood of ^[125] Poe's final home is preserved as the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage in the Bronx, New York. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, sometimes called simply Poe Cottage, is the former home of American writer Edgar Allan Poe located on Kingsbridge Road ^[57]

Other Poe landmarks include a building in the Upper West Side, where Poe temporarily lived when he first moved to New York. The Upper West Side is a neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River A plaque suggests that Poe wrote "The Raven" here. In Boston, a plaque hangs near the building where Poe was born once stood. Believed to have been located at 62 Carver Street (now Charles Street), the plaque is possibly in an incorrect location. ^[126][127] The bar in which legend says Poe was last seen drinking before his death still stands in Fells Point in Baltimore, Maryland. Fells Point is a Neighborhood in Baltimore Maryland, home to a variety of shops restaurants coffee bars music stores and over 120 pubs Now known as The Horse You Came In On, local lore insists that a ghost they call "Edgar" haunts the rooms above. ^[128]

Poe Toaster

Main article: Poe Toaster

Adding to the mystery surrounding Poe's death, an unknown visitor affectionately referred to as the "Poe Toaster" has paid homage to Poe's grave every year since 1949. The Poe Toaster is the unofficial nickname given to a mysterious figure who pays an annual tribute to American author Edgar Allan Poe by visiting the author's original grave As the tradition has been carried on for more than 50 years, it is likely that the "Poe Toaster" is actually several individuals; however, the tribute is always the same. Every January 19, in the early hours of the morning, the man makes a toast of cognac to Poe's original grave marker and leaves three roses. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Cognac (ˈkɒnjæk named after the town of Cognac in France, is a Brandy produced in the region surrounding the town Members of the Edgar Allan Poe Society in Baltimore have helped in protecting this tradition for decades. On August 15, 2007, Sam Porpora, a former historian at the Westminster Church in Baltimore where Poe is buried, claimed that he had started the tradition in the 1960s. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The claim that the tradition began in 1949, he said, was a hoax in order to raise money and enhance the profile of the church. His story has not been confirmed,^[129] and some details he has given to the press have been pointed out as factually inaccurate. ^[130]

Selected list of works

Main article: Bibliography of Edgar Allan Poe

Tales "Berenice" "The Black Cat" "The Cask of Amontillado" "The Fall of the House of Usher" "The Gold-Bug" "Hop-Frog" "Ligeia" "The Man of the Crowd" "The Masque of the Red Death" "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" "The Pit and the Pendulum" "The Purloined Letter" "The Tell-Tale Heart" "The Oblong Box" "The Premature Burial" "The Oval Portrait"

Poetry "A Dream Within A Dream" "Annabel Lee" "The Bells" "The City in the Sea" "The Conqueror Worm" "Eldorado" "The Haunted Palace" "Lenore" "The Raven" "Ulalume"

Other works

• The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838) – Poe's only complete novel
• "The Balloon-Hoax" (1844) – A journalistic hoax printed as a true story
• "The Philosophy of Composition" (1846) – Essay
• Eureka: A Prose Poem (1848) – Essay

See also

• Edgar Allan Poe and music
• USS E.A. Poe (IX-103)
• List of coupled cousins

References

Notes

General references

External links

About Poe

• Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
• Edgar Allan Poe Society in Baltimore
• Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia
• Edgar Allan Poe at Find A Grave

Works

• Works by Edgar Allan Poe at Project Gutenberg
• Works by Edgar Allan Poe, available at Internet Archive. Find A Grave is a Website allowing its users to access maintain and expand an online Database of Burial records Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to Digitize, archive and distribute Cultural works The Internet Archive ( IA) is a Nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining an on-line Library and archive of Web and Scanned illustrated books.
• PoeStories.com - With summaries, quotes, and full text of Poe's short stories, a Poe timeline, and image gallery.
• Poems by Edgar Allan Poe - An extensive collection of Poe's poetry.
• Poems by Edgar Allan Poe at PoetryFoundation.org
• The Edgar Allan Poe Virtual Library

Persondata
NAME	Poe, Edgar Allan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	American poet, short story writer and literary critic
DATE OF BIRTH	January 19, 1809(1809-01-19)
PLACE OF BIRTH	Boston, Massachusetts
DATE OF DEATH	October 7, 1849
PLACE OF DEATH	Baltimore, Maryland

Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

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