Biography Of Edgar Allen Poe

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Biography of Edgar Allen Poe

Edgar Allen Poe was one of the most successful writers of all time. He is known for his tales of the mysterious and macabre. He is reported to be the first master of the short story form (Edgar Allen Poe). About 12 of his works are known for their flawless literary construction. Poe had a rough childhood which definitely contributed to his writing.
Poe was born in January 19th of 1809 in Boston. Poe was the son of
David Poe, an actor and Eliza Poe, an actress. Poe also had a sister. At age three Poe was orphaned when he father disappeared one night and never returned and his mother died of tuberculosis. Poe then went to a foster house where he was adopted by John and Fanny Allen. Poe then at age six moved to England where he attended private schools.
As a teen Poe was very gifted in foreign language. He wrote some of his early works in both French an Latin. At age fifteen Poe had already written enough works to publish a book but John would not allow it. Poe was also very fit as a teen. Poe was supposedly a very fast swimmer and runner. It is reported that Poe once as a teen swam the James river from Lundhams Wharf to
Warwick Bar which is six miles against a strong current (Woodberry 20). At 15
Poe was the Lieutenant of the Junior Morgan Riflemen. Poe was then reviewed by the famous Marquis De Lafayette. Poe's grandfather General Poe is where Poe most likely got his military influence from.
In 1826 Poe enrolled into the University of Virginia. Poe wanted to become a translator. Poe was considered to be "precisely correct" (Moldavia).
Poe also loved debating. The student life at the University of Virginia in 1826 was very chaotic. In one student riot the students threw bottles and bricks at the professors. In Poe's letters to John Allen he often talked of violence on campus. He once wrote of how a student was struck on the head with a stone and then pulled out a gun and killed his attacker(Moldavia).
By the end of the year Poe had started to develop gambling debts. Poe blamed his gambling debts on John Allen saying that he did not provide enough for him to live on. Therefore gambling was the only way to survive. I think that it would have bean quite possible for Poe to g...

... middle of paper ...

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Bronx Historical Society, Internet, WISE, 3rd of April, 1997.

Woodberry, George E. Edgar Allen Poe. New York: AMS Press, Inc.,1968.

Poe Society. Edgar's Teens and the Parting with John Allen, Internet, WISE, 3rd of April 1997.

"Poe, Edgar Allen". Encarta 96. Washington: Microsoft Corporation,1993-1995.

Black, Midn A . How Did Poe Survive for Forty Years?, Internet, WISE, 3rd of
April, 1997.

Scarlett, Charles Jr. "A Tale of Ratiocination: The Death and Burial of Edgar
Allen Poe". Maryland Historical Magazine. (1978),360-374.

Poe Society. Summary of Edgar Poe's Life, Internet, WISE, 3rd of April 1997.

Mankowitz, Wolf.The Extraordinary Mr. Poe. New York: Summit Books, 1978.

Poe, Edgar Allen. The Letters of Edgar Allen Poe. Ed. John Ward Ostrom.
Cambridge, MA: Oxford University Press, 1948.

Poe, Edgar Allen. The Raven, Internet, WISE, 3rd of April 1997.

Griest, Stephanie. “Undying Devotion: Cemeteries Turn Down Celebrities Whose

Fans Won't Let Them Rest In Peace". The Washington Post., July 15, 1995, Sec:D
STYLE, I.

Parker, Jamie. Who Is Buried in Edgar Poe's Grave, Internet, WISE, 3rd of April,
1997.

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