Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849)

Image: courtesy of Google free pics; data sources: Wikipedia and various other biographies

Stanza 1: Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts of actor parentage. After losing both parents, he was fostered by a childless, well-heeled couple, the Allans, his name subsequently changed to incorporate their surname. He was never formally adopted. His guardian alternately spoiled and aggressively disciplined his foster son.

Stanza 2: After receiving a classical education in the UK, he returned to the US where it continued. He attended the University of Virginia but, after eleven months, was pulled out by his foster father, incensed by Poe's gambling losses. Finding nothing for himself back in Richmond (his sweetheart having become engaged in his absence), he moved to Boston where he published Tamerlane and other Poems.

Stanza 3 Neither the Army or West Point Military Academy held his interest amid his growing desire to pursue publishing. He was particularly drawn to the Dark Romanticism sub-genre (reflecting fascination with the irrational, demonic and grotesque).

Stanza 4: After reportedly courting his cousin for four years and, amid inevitable controversy, he married her in 1836. It's not conclusively known if the marriage was consummated and a theory exists that their relationship was more of a sibling one.

Stanza 5: Poe's burgeoning career as a poet, short story writer, critic and editor was gathering great momentum. His macabre themes appealed to public taste, a reaction against the likes of transcendentalism which he strongly disliked.His popularity inevitably upset and threatened mainstream writers of the time.

Stanza 6: His wife died in 1847 from tuberculosis. Even though Poe flirted whilst she was alive and courted other women afterwards, he could never strike up another meaningful relationship because he was so enamoured by her beauty and simplicity, an inspiration in his works, for example, The Raven, Annabel Lee and Lenora.

Stanza 7: The Raven - a narrative verse about a bereaved man mourning his lost Lenore late at night, and being visited by a raven, representing grief and loss. The themes are essentially death and the afterlife with the speaker opening up to the bird but getting nothing in return. This builds the tension and foreboding as the speaker becomes increasingly agitated, crossing the thin line of dark introspection between sanity and madness. *Lenore, represents his 'rare and radiant' wife, whom he will *nevermore meet again.

Stanza 8: In his essay, The Poetic Principle, he wrote that he dislikes didacticism (a literary movement encompassing works that instruct and entertain) and allegory, believing that meaning in literature should be an undercurrent just below the surface. According to him, works with obvious meaning cease to be art; they should be brief and focus on a specific single effect with each idea and sentiment carefully calculated; beauty and atmosphere should be the primary aim.

Stanza 9: Poe's classical background and fearlessness in pushing through social barriers to explore death in all its stages, the supernatural etc, opened doors for future writers. He is also credited with inventing the detective fiction genre and being a major contributor to science fiction.

Stanza 10: Poe's death, like much of his life has been the subject of debate. It was reported at the time that he died from disease relating to his alcoholism. But other theories abounded including: tuberculosis, heart disease, epilepsy, syphilis, meningeal inflammation, cholera, carbon monoxide poisoning and rabies. He was found in a dire condition, wearing clothes that were not his own. This latter reporting might indicate that he was a victim of cooping, in which election gangs would kidnap wayward individuals off the streets and ply their victims with alcohol to get them to vote, sometimes several times, for a particular candidate. Changing their clothes was an attempt to fool election officials.

Although, in the aftermath of his death, his reputation was badly slated, attributed not least to his outspoken criticism of other contemporary writers and, in turn, their resentment of his significant following, such bias has now been replaced with much more impartial respect and praise for this impressively talented artist. Despite a short and hapless life, his impact on a range of genres, his ingenious use of language and inspired and original imagination have left a legacy that will live on.

You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.