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Edgar Allan Poe : The Father Of Gothic Literature

Decent Essays

Marshuna Pippin
Mrs. Kirk
Acc. English 1
November 3, 2017
Edgar Allan Poe
Studies say that Edgar Allan Poe was the father of gothic literature. As an American writer and critic, he went through the struggles of living in poverty, having a drinking and gambling problem, and being judge based on his decisions. He was best known as an author of gothic fiction. He had a life of misfortune and indigence. Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19,1809 in Boston, Massachusetts to two striving actors, David Poe Jr. and Elizabeth Arnold Poe. Some studies say that both of his parents died when he was young (May 2079). Other studies say that Edgars father forsaken his family after they moved to New York (Loveday 1). He had an older brother, William …show more content…

During this time period, Frances Allan became ill and died. He was discharged from the service, and decided to attend West Point. John Allan hadn’t provided any financial support to Poe while he was at West Point, so Poe found ways to be expelled (May 2079). Over this time period, he published his first two short stories, Tamerlane and Other Poems and Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems.
He moved in with his Aunt Maria Clemm and cousin Virginia Clemm. When John Allan died, he left nothing for Poe in his will, he gave all his inheritance to his twin sons he fathered during an affair. After all of this, he published more books of poetry and short stories. He joined many editor groups and left them. Poe married his 13- year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm, on September 22,1835, which many people disapproved (Loveday 3). After many years, Virginia became ill with tuberculosis and died on January 30, 1847. Edgar Allan Poe became depressed and even attempted suicide by ingesting laudanum, a tincture of opiates, in November 1848 (Loveday 4). He began to show madness through some of his short stories such as The Tell-Tale Heart, Black Cat, and The Cask of Amontillado. Poe even wrote Annabel Lee to reflect their relationship and Ulalume as a memorial to his dead wife. Poe moved back to New York City and published his most famous poem, The Raven in January 1845. He then had left an editor group New York Mirror to join another one Broadway

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