The Life And Death Of Edgar Allan Poe Essays - Edgar Allan Poe

The Life And Death Of Edgar Allan Poe Table of Contents Introduction 2 Early Life 2 Time at the University.4 1827-18295 The Army (1827-1829 continued)7 Reconciliation With John Allan (1827-1829 continued)..8 Fanny Allans Death (1827-1829 continued)9 Less Happiness and More Writing9 The Death of Edgar Allan Poe..10 Conclusion11 Bibliography.15 The Life and Death of Edgar Allan Poe Introduction Edgar Allan Poe had a writing style that was rather unique. He had a way of rhyming and expressing himself that no other author had at the time. He was in himself a genius in his own demented way. Many of Poes writings reflected his life, be it happy or sad. Poe had a very difficult life, different from many others. All the women in his life seemed to die. Many died of Tuberculosis. Those who didnt die of Tuberculosis still seemed to die. These deaths played a major effect on Poes writing style. Men were often the bad guys in Poes literature, and nearly every story Poe wrote was about death. Many times there were obscure circumstances surrounding the deaths in the stories. That fact, and the fact that his writings intrigue me are the sole factors as to why I chose to write about this amazingly depressing man. Early Life Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January nineteenth, 1809. His actor parents, Betty and David Poe orphaned Edgar at the age of three. John and Francis Allan of Richmond, Virginia took Edgar in. When Edgar grew into his teens, his family moved around a lot. They finally moved to a house that they got from William Galt in 1822 or 1823. Edgar continued his education during this time and when he was fourteen, he attended the academy of Joseph H. Clarke, and after that he studied with William Burke. Edgars schooling in Richmond encouraged his gift for the written art, and he was good at Latin and French. When he was sixteen, he wrote one of his earliest surviving poems; Oh Tempora! Oh Mores! Edgar wrote enough poems to publish a book, but his teacher persuaded John Allan not to. When Edgar returned from England, he was rather wimpy and pale, but when he got back to Richmond, he started doing well in athletics. He was a good runner, leaper, boxer, and also a very good swimmer. When he was fifteen, he swam six miles up the James River partly against strong tide. Edgar obviously made a good impression on other people. Thomas Ellis, the son of John Allans business partner once said: No boy ever had a greater influence over me than he had. Also at the age of fifteen, he became a lieutenant in the Junior Morgan Riflemen. As second- in command, he was reviewed by the popular Marquis de Lafayette whom two weeks earlier had praised Edgars grandfather, General David Poe, for his good work. When Edgar returned to Richmond, he wanted to emphasize that he was not formally adopted by that Allans, so he was simply know as Edgar Poe. Edgar was in search for a maternal figure in his life. He was very fond of his foster mother, Fanny Allan, but because she was sick all the time, she was much less than the ideal mother. At one occasion it is know that he called his sister Rosalies foster mother ma. At the age of fourteen he became infatuated with Mrs. Jane Stanard, the mother of one of his classmates. He went to her when he felt unhappy, and she somehow resembled both Fanny Allan and Eliza Poe. Edgar had only known her for about a year when she died at the age of thirty-one; it was assumed that she was insane. Edgar suffered from her death, and his behavior changed. This caused arguments at home with John Allan who spoke of Edgar as Sulky, and ill tempered to all the family. John Allan thought that the reason Edgar was acting like that because he was unthankful for all his foster father had done. On the morning of March 26, 1825, William Galt, the owner of the Allans house, Suddenly threw back his head and eyes and seemed oppressed. Uncle Galt straightened himself, and died. The Allans inheritance from Galt was estimated at three fourths of