Edgar Allan Poe, Essay Example

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1809, Edgar Allen Poe never got the opportunity to know his biological parents. His father left the family early and his mother died when he was only three. Poe spent most of his early life with his uncle John Allen, a successful tobacco merchant and his wife, Frances. From an early age, Poe showed interest in poetry and didn’t bond well with his business-minded uncle (Biography).

Poe enrolled at the University of Virginia but an insufficient financial support by his uncle forced him to turn to gambling to cover his expenses. The strategy backfired and his financial condition worsened. In the meanwhile, a betrayal by his fiancée also left Poe heartbroken. Poe would later enroll at West Point and even though he excelled at his studies, he was kicked out after a year due to negligence of duties (Biography).

Poe published his first book Tamerlane when he was only eighteen. Poe had already published another volume of poetry by the time he enrolled at West Point. Poe would publish another book as well as numerous short stories before his luck changed for the better when one of his short stories won a contest sponsored by the Saturday Visiter, a publication in Baltimore. Poe soon became an editor at the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond, Virginia. Poe helped turn the publication into the most popular magazine in the south.

Poe married his cousin Virginia at the age of fourteen and the marriage prospered until Virginia’s death at the young age of twenty-four. Virginia’s death left Poe severely devastated and at the same time, lack of work due to struggling economy again drove Poe to depression. Poe lived only another two years before he died on October 7, 1849 at the age of forty (Poe Museum).

In addition to the Southern Literary Messenger, Poe also edited numerous other literary journals including the Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine, Graham’s Magazine in Philadelphia, and the Broadway Journal in New York City. It was during his time as editor at literary journals that he produced some of his best-known stories and poems including The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, and The Raven. Poe’s work also inspired writers across the ocean including French Symbolists such as Mallarme and Rimbaud as well as Baudelaire (Poets.Org).

References

Biography. (n.d.). Edgar Allan Poe. Retrieved July 15, 2012, from http://www.biography.com/people/edgar-allan-poe-9443160

Poe Museum. (n.d.). Poe’s Life. Retrieved July 15, 2012, from http://www.poemuseum.org/life.php

Poets.Org. (n.d.). Edgar Allen Poe. Retrieved July 15, 2012, from http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/130