Edgar Allan Poe had a tragic and unhappy life, being orphaned at a young age and having constant disagreements with his adoptive father. He struggled with drinking and gambling which prevented him from continuing his education. Poe married his cousin but she died young, and he later died in poverty in Baltimore at age 40. Poe was known for his tales of mystery and terror as well as introducing the modern detective story. He used Gothic elements such as the supernatural and an atmosphere of terror in his works, as well as symbols and allusions to enhance his stories.

1. Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe
1809-18491809-1849

2. His Family and Tragic LifeHis Family and Tragic Life
Born in BostonBorn in Boston
The son of traveling actorsThe son of traveling actors
Tragic and unhappy lifeTragic and unhappy life

3. Tragic and Unhappy LifeTragic and Unhappy Life
Mother died, father desertedMother died, father deserted
him at the age of twohim at the age of two
adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Johnadopted by Mr. and Mrs. John
AllanAllan
constant disagreements withconstant disagreements with
his step-fatherhis step-father

4. . . .continued. . .continued
Studied briefly at theStudied briefly at the
University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
Drinking and gamblingDrinking and gambling
difficulties kept him fromdifficulties kept him from
continuing at UVAcontinuing at UVA

5. . . .continued. . .continued
Received an appointment toReceived an appointment to
West Point, but he provokedWest Point, but he provoked
his own dismissalhis own dismissal
Caused a final separationCaused a final separation
between Poe and his step-between Poe and his step-
fatherfather

6. . . .continued. . .continued
In 1836 married his 14 yearIn 1836 married his 14 year
old cousin, Virginiaold cousin, Virginia
Last 12 years of life workedLast 12 years of life worked
as a journalist, editor, andas a journalist, editor, and
creative writercreative writer

7. . . . continued. . . continued
 Lived in poverty strickenLived in poverty stricken
conditionsconditions
 In 1846 wife died after a longIn 1846 wife died after a long
illnessillness

8. . . . continued. . . continued
Died in Baltimore after heDied in Baltimore after he
was found in a drunkenwas found in a drunken
stuporstupor
Died a poor manDied a poor man

9. Poe’s WorkPoe’s Work
Known for:Known for:
Tales ofTales of
mystery andmystery and
terror storiesterror stories
Introducing theIntroducing the
modernmodern
detective storydetective story

10. Short StoriesShort Stories
The Tell-TaleThe Tell-Tale
HeartHeart
The Cask ofThe Cask of
AmontilladoAmontillado
The BlackThe Black
Cat,Cat,
The Pit andThe Pit and
The PendulumThe Pendulum
Just a Few TitlesJust a Few Titles
Poems:Poems:
The RavenThe Raven
Annabel LeeAnnabel Lee
To HelenTo Helen
LenoreLenore

11. AddictionAddiction
 Sometimes strange special effectsSometimes strange special effects
have been linked to his addiction tohave been linked to his addiction to
opiumopium
 Addiction not uncommon in theAddiction not uncommon in the
1800’s, because of frequent use of1800’s, because of frequent use of
laudanum, an opium basedlaudanum, an opium based
medicine, to treat headaches andmedicine, to treat headaches and
stomach painsstomach pains

12. AllusionAllusion
 Reference to a famous historicalReference to a famous historical
or literary figure or eventor literary figure or event
 Best sources are literature,Best sources are literature,
history, Greek myth, and the Biblehistory, Greek myth, and the Bible
 Serves to explain or clarify orServes to explain or clarify or
enhance whatever subjectenhance whatever subject

13. Gothic ElementsGothic Elements
 supernatural horrors and an atmospheresupernatural horrors and an atmosphere
of unknown terror pervades the actionof unknown terror pervades the action
 High emotion, sentimentalism, but alsoHigh emotion, sentimentalism, but also
pronounced anger, surprise, andpronounced anger, surprise, and
especially terrorespecially terror
 use of words indicating fear, mystery,use of words indicating fear, mystery,
etc.: apparition, devil, ghost, haunted,etc.: apparition, devil, ghost, haunted,
terror, fright, faintingterror, fright, fainting

14. SymbolSymbol
Something that is itself and yet alsoSomething that is itself and yet also
represents something elserepresents something else
Universal symbols embodyUniversal symbols embody
universally recognizable meaningsuniversally recognizable meanings
Invested symbols are given symbolicInvested symbols are given symbolic
meaning by the way an author usesmeaning by the way an author uses
them in a literary workthem in a literary work

15. You will identify how PoeYou will identify how Poe
uses allusion, gothicuses allusion, gothic
elements, and symbols inelements, and symbols in
“The Pit and the Pendulum.”“The Pit and the Pendulum.”