Edgar Allan Poe Influences

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. Poe’s parents were both professional actors whom tragically died before Poe reached the age of three. From an early age, Poe was exposed to horrific events including death, poverty, depression, later said to have influenced many of his renowned works. After his parents death, Poe was raised as a foster child by by John and Frances Allan, elite tobacco exporters, in Richmond, Virginia; Poe’s siblings were sent to live with other families. Poe received education from several boarding schools and eventually academically excelled at the University of Virginia. However, Poe was forced to drop out of the prestigious school after one year due to debt. Poe began to gamble in order to round up money, however he eventually ended up desperately poor to the extent where

Two years after, Poe attended the United States Military Academy at West Point; eventually, Poe was kicked out after eight months due to debt, once again. Poe was welcomed into the home of his aunt Maria Clemm and her daughter Virginia. Poe, his aunt, and cousin moved to Richmond where Poe fell in love with Virginia. Poe and Virginia eventually married when Virginia was at the age of fourteen years old. Poe began to write for several magazines to produce enough money to support both him and his wife financially. During this time, Poe also published his first book of short stories, Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque; however, Poe had not received much critical acclaim until January 1845- the year “The Raven” was published. Many of Poe’s renowned works were quickly published after, including “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Fall of the House of the Usher.” Unfortunately, the love of his life, Virginia Clemm, succumbed to tuberculosis and tragically died in