On Edgar Allan Poe

Summary

Edgar Allan Poe, a renowned poet, faced a tumultuous life marked by tragedy and eccentricity. Orphaned at a young age, he was adopted by a wealthy merchant and attended the University of Virginia, where he developed a penchant for drinking and gambling. Disowned by his foster family, Poe's personal life was fraught with financial struggles and the loss of his young wife, Virginia, to malnutrition. Despite his hardships, Poe's literary career flourished as an editor, critic, and author, with 'The Raven' being his most celebrated work. His life ended mysteriously with a disappearance and subsequent death from brain fever in 1849.

Takeaways

• 📚 Edgar Allan Poe was a renowned poet, editor, and critic with a life as intriguing as his works.
• 🎭 His life was marked by tragedy, including the early deaths of his parents and siblings, and his own struggles with alcoholism and gambling.
• 🏛️ Poe was adopted by a wealthy merchant, John Allan, and was sent to the University of Virginia, where his vices led to his disownment.
• 💍 His engagement to Elmira ended when her parents persuaded her to marry someone wealthier due to Poe's financial instability.
• 📖 After military service, Poe moved to Baltimore and started publishing his poems, though they were not successful financially.
• 🔫 He was dismissed from West Point for neglect of duty and disobedience, adding to his string of failures.
• 💔 Poe married his cousin Virginia at 26, an alcoholic, to a 13-year-old, which led to a marriage filled with hardship and her eventual death from malnutrition.
• ✒️ His career as a magazine editor and critic was highlighted by his sharp critiques and the publication of 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.
• 🐦 'The Raven', one of his most famous works, was published to great acclaim but brought him little financial reward.
• 🕊️ His life ended mysteriously with a disappearance and death in Baltimore, with speculations about his final days still persisting.

Q & A

Who is considered the son of his own works according to the script?

Edgar Allan Poe is considered the son of his own works.

What was the profession of Poe's parents?

Poe's parents were strolling players.

How did Poe's parents die when he was young?

Both of Poe's parents died before he was two years old.

What happened to Poe's siblings, William and Rosalie?

William became insane, and Rosalie died young.

Who adopted Edgar Allan Poe and why was he fortunate?

Edgar was adopted by a wealthy merchant, John Allen, who provided him with an opulent upbringing and sent him to the University of Virginia.

What led to Poe's dismissal from the University of Virginia?

Poe was dismissed from the University of Virginia due to his drinking and gambling, which led him into hopeless debt.

Why was Poe's engagement to Elmira terminated?

Poe's engagement to Elmira was terminated because he was disowned by his foster parents and was no longer heir to the Allen fortune, leading her parents to persuade her to marry a more affluent man.

What significant event happened in Poe's life after his time in the army?

After his time in the army, Poe moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt Maria Clara and her daughter Virginia, and he managed to get his poems published in Boston.

How did Poe's marriage to his cousin Virginia affect their lives?

Poe's marriage to his cousin Virginia was disastrous as they faced poverty, suffering, and Virginia's eventual death due to malnutrition.

What was the high point of Poe's career as a critic?

The high point of Poe's career as a critic was his work for the Southern Literary Messenger, where he brilliantly critiqued the works of his contemporaries.

What was the financial outcome for Poe after the publication of 'The Raven'?

Despite the enthusiastic reception of 'The Raven,' Poe received only about ten dollars for the work.

What is the mystery surrounding Poe's death?

The mystery surrounding Poe's death is that he disappeared in Baltimore, was found in a drugged condition, and died of a violent brain fever without anyone knowing exactly what happened to him during those missing days.