Edgar Allan Poe

1. Edgar Allan Poe By: Darian Payne

2. Timeline 1825 Engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster March 27, 1834 John Allan dies January 19, 1809 Edgar Allan Poe was Born to David & Eliza in the city of Boston. January 29, 1845 Becomes famous for “The Raven” which was published in New York 1815 Edgar lives with the Allan’s in England & attends school in London & Stroke-Newington. January 30, 1847Virginia Clemm, Poe’s wife dies of T.B. and Poe became ill. May 16, 1836 Poe marries his 13 year old cousin, Virginia Clemm in Richmond 1826 Attended the University of Virginia. February 28, 1829 Frances Allan dies of T.B. December 8, 1811 Eliza dies on a theatrical tour in Richmond. October 7, 1849 Poe died in a hospital in Baltimore and was buried in the Westminster Presbyterian Church Febuary, 1841 Poe became editor of Graham’s Magazine 1835 Moves to Richmond with cousin Virginia Clemm and her mother 1821 Poe continues to go to school in Richmond 1827 Arguments with John Allan so leaves for Boston where he publishes poems such as Tamerlane and joined the army June 1839 assistant editor for the Magazine Burton’s Gentleman

3. Biography Edgar Allan Poe was born in the city of Boston on January 19, 1809 to Elizabeth and David Poe. Since David Poe abandoned his family, Elizabeth was left to raise three children on her own, but died at age 24 of tuberculosis on December 8, 1811. Although Poe was only three years old when his mother died, he still had deep memories of her. Edgar was sent to foster homes where he was taken in by John Allan, a tobacco merchant, and Frances Allan who lived in England. Unfortunately, Poe’s foster mother also died of tuberculosis and he was left to live with John Allan. The problem was that Edgar Poe and John Allan had opposite personalities. Allan was a tobacco merchant who had no manners and many affairs. Poe, on the other hand, was a very bright, respectful, intelligent, and athletic young man who believed that women were angelic figures who should be treated with respect. In 1826 he attended the University of Virginia which was not a very beneficial school. Instead of making money by gambling Poe was in debt, so he asked John Allan for some money, but he refused. In 1827 Edgar leaves the University of Virginia and joins the army at the age of 18. After the army, Poe went back to Boston and, at age 20, published two books of poetry. Both his brother and his stepmother died of tuberculosis. Family was very important to Edgar Allan Poe so he moved in with his aunt Maria Clemm and his cousin Virginia in the city of Baltimore. His relationship with John Allan grew worse; John threatened Poe and left him out of his will. Adding on to that problem, Edgar had trouble selling books because the publishers didn’t like his writing, but in 1835 he became an editor, and Tomahawk Man was his nickname. Moved back into Richmond, Poe fell in love with his 12 year old cousin, Virginia, and they got married on May 16, 1836. They were a loving, devoted couple who brought out the best in each other and were always happy together. Then, in the year 1842 Virginia was performing a song when she began to cough up blood. They found out that she, too, was diagnosed with tuberculosis. In January 1842, he by publishing his poem “The Raven”. As a result, Poe earned the nickname The Raven, but he only made $14 from his poem. Then, in 1846 he moved into a cottage in Fordham with his dying wife and got a job where he worked for 16 hours to take care of his wife. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough, and Virginia died on January 30 1847. Poe began to chase different women, and fell in love with a poet named Helen Whitman. He proposed to her in a cemetery, but Helen’s mother refused to let her marry because she didn’t want Poe to take their estate. Edgar Allan Poe was found on the streets of Baltimore in terrible condition so he was rushed to the hospital where he died on October 7, 1849.

4. Characters in The Fall of the House of Usher Madeline Madeline is the sister of Roderick Usher, and she was motivated to get out of the cellar where she was buried alive. She was determined to get out because she was seeking revenge of Roderick Usher because he buried her alive. Because of these motivations, Madeline strangled her brother Roderick Usher to death. Roderick Usher Roderick Usher buried his dying, but not yet dead, sister, Madeline, alive. He was determined to do this because he, too, had an illness. “I shudder at the thought of any, even the most trivial, incident, which may operate upon this intolerable agitation of soul” he told the narrator. Narrator This character has many motivations throughout the story. His first, motivation was to turn away from the House of Usher because of the way it looked, but he was more determined to see is friend Roderick Usher. Instead of turning away, he rode up to the house because he was motivated to meet with his friend again. The second thing he did was try to have fun with Roderick; he was motivated to do this because his poor friend was ill. In the end, he was determined to leave the house because Madeline came back for her revenge and killed Roderick Usher. Madeline in “The Fall of the House of Usher

5. Literary Devices Foreshadowing- Poe use foreshadowing in “The Fall of the House of Usher” when he says that when Madeline was in her coffin her cheeks were still red. We can predict that she was still alive. Flashback- An example of a flashback is when the narrator talks about his childhood; when he tells us about himself and Roderick Usher as children. Suspense- The author adds suspense to this piece of literature when the narrator is reading with Roderick Usher when there is a storm outside and they hear a noise from the cellar. We don’t know what is going to happen next. Imagery- Edgar Allan Poe uses imagery to help us see images of the setting and characters that he uses in his writing. Sensory images-He uses words, comparisons, and images to make his reader fell like they are in the story. Symbolism- The symbol that Poe uses in “The Fall of the House of Usher” is the house. It symbolizes Roderick Usher. Irony- Last, but not least, Poe uses irony in his stories. The narrator went to see his old friend to make him happy, and to have fun with him. It turned out that he began to become like Roderick Usher. He became dull.