Edgar Allan Poe Influences

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Edgar Allan Poe was a writer and a critic for different magazine companies in the late 1830’s to the early 40’s. “He was a very complex person, although consumed by alcoholism, there were times where he was considerate”(Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2). Edgar Allan Poe is an important figure in America because he is known as one of the most brilliant, original writers in American literature. Poe, born in Boston, Mass., was adopted by his “godfather” John Allan and his wife Francis, after the death of his parents, at the age of 3. He would move to Europe with the Allan’s where he started his education. There are different theories about his parents death. “His father left when he was 2 and his mother died after he turned 3”(Biography,1) …show more content…

and continue to go to school at the University of Virginia in Richmond. “He showed great interest in classical and romance languages but didn’t like the idea of classical language as much as romance”(Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,1). Even though he liked romance he wasn’t necessarily satisfied with just romance. He had a passion of writing dark and mysterious tales. But sadly only gone 8 months of school, Poe was forced to leave due to many quarrels with his godfather.” After he was forced to leave, Poe was living in a life of poverty, which then forced him to enroll in the army. A year later, his godfather remarried after the death of his wife, which made Poe lose all hope of further assistance from Allan.” (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,1). Once again Poe would find himself living a life in poverty and had no choice but to move in with his aunt, Mrs. Maria Clemm and her daughter, …show more content…

He gave a voice to mystery novels and was very detailed in his writing. “Some of his magazine stories were collected as Tales of Grotesque and Arabesque” (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2). After writing many mystery tales he earned the name “father of the modern detective story”, due to his interest in mystery, dark objects, and death. He moved back to New York and started to work on his short-story “Evening Mirror”, which was later edited and was owned the Broadway Journal. “ He achieved celebrity status when his poem “The Raven” was published by the New York Mirror in January 1845” (Kehoe, 2). The story of a black bird with the haunting call “nevermore”(Goldman,1). It gave many a fright while they were reading it. “It was widely republished and became one of the best known poems written by an American” (Kehoe, 2). But the fame did not last long, for it took a year for the Mirror to pay his $10 fee. He even said “I have made no money”, and said “I am as poor now as I ever was in my life” (Kehoe,

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