Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most well-known authors in American Literature history. He used his emotions and past experiences to create his elaborate work. Poe suffered from poor health and had many financial struggles (biography.com). Despite all odds, Poe found his relief through his writing and became extremely successful.
Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were David Poe Jr. and Eliza Poe, who were large factors in Poe’s writing. Poe had a very rough childhood compared to most, both his mother and father died before Poe was three years old. He was then adopted by Mr and Mrs. John Allan of Richmond, Virginia and was separated from his two siblings. Edgar never had a strong relationship with his adoptive father, and it caused a lot of issues between them. John Allan sent Poe to some of the best boarding schools and later to the University of Virginia, but was forced to leave when John refused to pay off Edgar’s gambling debts. Poe moved to Boston
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His poem “The Raven” is about a black bird that speaks to a man who is grieving the loss of a deceased lover named Lenore. The only thing the bird can say is “Nevermore,” so the man is left feeling hopeless with the questions he asks the raven. In this poem the raven symbolizes Poe’s wife who passed away unexpectedly from tuberculosis. The grieving man talking to the raven represents Poe and his sorrow-filled life. Poe is expressing that he feels hopeless, alone, and angry (Beidler). Poe tends to use recurring tones in his writing, which are usually very somber and peculiar. These familiar tones definitely correlate with Edgar’s life and past experiences, considering all that he’s been through. A large majority of Poe’s life is still a mystery, and it is believed that this is why his writing is so eerie. Poe’s writing greatly reflects the unfortunate life events that he