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                                              EDGAR ALLAN POE

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                                              EDGAR ALLAN POE

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                             THE FATHER OF THE DETECTIVE STORY

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                             THE FATHER OF THE DETECTIVE STORY

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Poe is generally considered the inventor of the detective fiction and is one of the most important contributors to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

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E. A. Poe was born  on January 19, 1809, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. American short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor Edgar Allan Poe's tales of mystery and horror initiated the modern detective story, and the atmosphere in his tales of horror is unrivaled in American fiction.

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Read and listen to Poe's biography, then answer the following questions
1. What was Poe's childhood like?
2. Who were the Allans?
3. What did he do to face his money problem when he was at University?
4. What can you tell about his experience at the Military Academy of Westpoint?
5. Was his experience at the Southern Literary Messenger successful?
6. What are his major works? When did he publish them?
7. What is his poem "The Raven" about?

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Who Was Edgar Allan Poe?

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, critic and editor best known for evocative short stories and poems that captured the imagination and interest of readers around the world. His imaginative storytelling and tales of mystery and horror gave birth to the modern detective story.

Many of Poe's works, including "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Fall of the House of Usher," became literary classics. Some aspects of Poe's life, like his literature, is shrouded in mystery, and the lines between fact and fiction have been blurred substantially since his death.

Early Life and Family

Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Poe never really knew his parents - Elizabeth Arnold Poe, a British actress, and David Poe, Jr., an actor who was born in Baltimore. His father left the family early in Poe's life, and his mother passed away from tuberculosis when he was only three.

Separated from his brother William and sister Rosalie, Poe went to live with John and Frances Allan, a successful tobacco merchant and his wife, in Richmond, Virginia. Edgar and Frances seemed to form a bond, but he had a more difficult relationship with John Allan.

By the age of 13, Poe was a prolific poet, but his literary talents were discouraged by his headmaster and John Allan, who preferred that Poe follow him in the family business. Preferring poetry over profits, Poe reportedly wrote poems on the back of some of Allan's business papers.

Money was also an issue between Poe and John Allan. Poe went to the University of Virginia in 1826, where he excelled in his classes. However, he didn't receive enough funds from Allan to cover all of his costs. Poe turned to gambling to cover the difference, but ended up in debt.

He returned home only to face another personal setback - his neighbor and fiancée Sarah Elmira Royster had become engaged to someone else. Heartbroken and frustrated, Poe moved to Boston.

Army and West Point

In 1827, around the time he published his first book, Poe joined the U.S. Army. Two years later, he learned that Frances Allan was dying of tuberculosis, but by the time he returned to Richmond she had already passed away.

While in Virginia, Poe and Allan briefly made peace with each other, and Allan helped Poe get an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Poe excelled at his studies at West Point, but he was kicked out after a year for his poor handling of his duties.

During his time at West Point, Poe had fought with his foster father, who had remarried without telling him. Some have speculated that Poe intentionally sought to be expelled to spite Allan, who eventually cut ties with Poe.

Editor, Critic, Poet and Writer

After leaving West Point, Poe published his third book and focused on writing full-time. He traveled around in search of opportunity, living in New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Richmond. In 1834, John Allan died, leaving Poe out of his will, but providing for an illegitimate child Allan had never met.

Poe, who continued to struggle living in poverty, got a break when one of his short stories won a contest in the Baltimore Saturday Visiter. He began to publish more short stories and in 1835 landed an editorial position with the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond.

Poe developed a reputation as a cut-throat critic, writing vicious reviews of his contemporaries. His scathing critiques earned him the nickname the "Tomahawk Man."

His tenure at the magazine proved short. Poe's aggressive-reviewing style and sometimes combative personality strained his relationship with the publication, and he left the magazine in 1837. His problems with alcohol also played a role in his departure, according to some reports.

Poe went on to brief stints at Burton's Gentleman's Magazine, Graham's Magazine, The Broadway Journal, and he also sold his work to Alexander's Weekly Messenger, among other journals.

In 1844, Poe moved to New York City. There, he published a news story in The New York Sun about a balloon trip across the Atlantic Ocean that he later revealed to be a hoax. His stunt grabbed attention, but it was his publication of "The Raven," in 1845, which made Poe a literary sensation.

That same year, Poe found himself under attack for his stinging criticisms of fellow poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Poe claimed that Longfellow, a widely popular literary figure, was a plagiarist, which resulted in a backlash against Poe.

Despite his success and popularity as a writer, Poe continued to struggle financially and he advocated for higher wages for writers and an international copyright law.

Wife

From 1831 to 1835, Poe lived in Baltimore, where his father was born, with his aunt Maria Clemm and her daughter, his cousin Virginia. He began to devote his attention to Virginia, who became his literary inspiration as well as his love interest.

The couple married in 1836 when she was only 13 years old. In 1847, at the age of 24 - the same age when Poe's mother and brother also died - Virginia passed away from tuberculosis.

Poe was overcome by grief following her death, and although he continued to work, he suffered from poor health and struggled financially until his death in 1849.

Edgar Allan Poe: Poems

Poe self-published his first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems, in 1827. His second poetry collection, Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems, was published in 1829.

As a critic at the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond from 1835 to 1837, Poe published some of his own works in the magazine, including two parts of his only novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.
DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY'S EDGAR ALLAN POE FACT CARD

Short Stories

In late 1830s, Poe published Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, a collection of short stories. It contained several of his most spine-tingling tales, including "The Fall of the House of Usher," "Ligeia" and "William Wilson."

In 1841, Poe launched the new genre of detective fiction with "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." His literary innovations earned him the nickname "Father of the Detective Story." A writer on the rise, he won a literary prize in 1843 for "The Gold Bug," a suspenseful tale of secret codes and hunting treasure.

'The Black Cat'

Poe's short story "The Black Cat" was published in 1843 in The Saturday Evening Post. In it, the narrator, a one-time animal lover, becomes an alcoholic who begins abusing his wife and black cat. By the macabre story's end, the narrator observes his own descent into madness as he kills his wife, a crime his black cat reports to the police. The story was later included in the 1845 short story collection, Tales by Edgar Allan Poe.

'The Raven'

Poe's poem "The Raven," published in 1845 in the New York Evening Mirror, is considered among the best-known poems in American literature and one of the best of Poe's career. An unknown narrator laments the demise of his great love Lenore and is visited by a raven, who insistently repeats one word: "Nevermore." In the work, which consists of 18 six-line stanzas, Poe explored some of his common themes - death and loss.

'Annabel Lee'

This lyric poem again explores Poe's themes of death and loss and may have been written in memory of his beloved wife Virginia, who died two years prior. The poem was published on October 9, 1849, two days after Poe's death, in the New York Tribune.

Later in his career, Poe continued to work in different forms, examining his own methodology and writing in general in several essays, including "The Philosophy of Composition," "The Poetic Principle" and "The Rationale of Verse." He also produced the thrilling tale, "The Cask of Amontillado," and poems such as "Ulalume" and "The Bells."

Death

Poe died on October 7, 1849. His final days remain somewhat of a mystery. Poe left Richmond on September 27, 1849, and was supposedly on his way to Philadelphia.

On October 3, he was found in Baltimore in great distress. Poe was taken to Washington College Hospital, where he died four days later. His last words were "Lord, help my poor soul."

At the time, it was said that Poe died of "congestion of the brain." But his actual cause of death has been the subject of endless speculation.

Some experts believe that alcoholism led to his demise while others offer up alternative theories. Rabies, epilepsy and carbon monoxide poisoning are just some of the conditions thought to have led to the great writer's death.

Legacy

Shortly after his passing, Poe's reputation was badly damaged by his literary adversary Rufus Griswold. Griswold, who had been sharply criticized by Poe, took his revenge in his obituary of Poe, portraying the gifted yet troubled writer as a mentally deranged drunkard and womanizer.

He also penned the first biography of Poe, which helped cement some of these misconceptions in the public's minds.

While he never had financial success in his lifetime, Poe has become one of America's most enduring writers. His works are as compelling today as they were more than a century ago.

An innovative and imaginative thinker, Poe crafted stories and poems that still shock, surprise and move modern readers. His dark work influenced writers including Charles Baudelaire, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Stephane Mallarme.

Edgar Allan Poe: House and Museum

The Baltimore home where Poe stayed from 1831 to 1835 with his aunt Maria Clemm and her daughter, Poe's cousin and future wife Virginia, is now a museum.

The Edgar Allan Poe House offers a self-guided tour featuring exhibits on Poe's foster parents, his life and death in Baltimore and the poems and short stories he wrote while living there, as well as memorabilia including his chair and desk.
Watch "The Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe" on HISTORY Vault

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Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, critic and editor best known for evocative short stories and poems that captured the imagination and interest of readers around the world. His imaginative storytelling and tales of mystery and horror gave birth to the modern detective story.

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Here is the Italian version of Poe's biography

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Here is the Italian version of Poe's biography

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Biografia * Tormenti e visioni

Edgar Allan Poe nasce il 19 gennaio 1809 a Boston, da David Poe ed Elizabeth Arnold, attori girovaghi di modeste condizioni economiche. Il padre abbandona la famiglia quando Edgar è ancora piccolo; quando dopo poco muore anche la madre, viene adottato in maniera non ufficiale da John Allan, ricco mercante della Virginia. Da qui l'aggiunta del cognome Allan a quello originale.

Trasferitosi a Londra per questioni commerciali il giovane Poe frequenta scuole private per poi ritornare a Richmond nel 1820. Nel 1826 si iscrive all'università della Virginia dove però comincia ad affiancare agli studi il gioco d'azzardo. Indebitatosi in maniera inusitata, il patrigno si rifiuta di pagare i debiti obbligandolo in questo modo ad abbandonare gli studi per cercarsi un lavoro e far fronte alle numerose spese. Da quel momento iniziano forti incomprensioni fra i due fino a spingere il futuro scrittore ad abbandonare la casa per raggiungere Boston, e da lì arruolarsi nell'esercito.

Nel 1829 pubblica in modo anonimo "Tamerlane and other poems", e con il suo nome "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and minor poems". Nel contempo, lasciato l'esercito, si trasferisce presso parenti a Baltimora.

Nel 1830 si iscrive all'accademia militare di West Point per farsi però ben presto espellere per aver disobbedito agli ordini. In questi anni Poe continua a scrivere versi satirici. Nel 1832 arrivano i primi successi come scrittore che lo portano nel 1835 ad ottenere la direzione del "Southern Literary Messenger" di Richmond.

Il padre adottivo muore senza lasciare alcuna eredità al figlioccio.

Poco dopo, all'età di 27 anni, Edgar Allan Poe sposa la cugina Virginia Clemm, non ancora quattordicenne. E' questo un periodo nel quale pubblica innumerevoli articoli, racconti e poesie, senza però ottenere grandi guadagni.

In cerca di miglior fortuna decide di trasferirsi a New York. Dal 1939 al 1940 è redattore del "Gentleman's magazine", mentre contemporaneamente escono i suoi "Tales of the grotesque and arabesque" che gli procurano una fama notevole.

Le sue capacità di redattore erano tali che gli permettevano ogni volta che approdava ad un giornale di raddoppiarne o quadruplicarne le vendite. Nel 1841 passa a dirigere il "Graham's magazine". Due anni più tardi le cattive condizioni di salute della moglie Virginia e le difficoltà lavorative, lo portano a dedicarsi con sempre maggior accanimento al bere e, nonostante la pubblicazione di nuovi racconti, le sue condizioni economiche restano sempre precarie.

Nel 1844 Poe inizia la serie di "Marginalia", escono i "Tales" ed ottiene grande successo con la poesia "The Raven". Le cose sembrano andare per il meglio, soprattutto quando nel 1845 diventa prima redattore, poi proprietario del "Broadway Journal".

Ben presto la reputazione raggiunta viene però compromessa da accuse di plagio, portando Edgar Allan Poe verso una profonda depressione nervosa che, unita alle difficoltà economiche, lo portano a cessare le pubblicazioni del suo giornale.

Trasferitosi a Fordham, seriamente malato ed in condizioni di povertà, continua a pubblicare articoli e racconti pur non ottenendo mai vera fama in patria; il suo nome invece comincia a farsi notare in Europa e soprattutto in Francia.

Nel 1847 la morte di Virginia segna una pesante ricaduta della salute di Poe, che però non lo distoglie dal continuare a scrivere. La sua dedizione all'alcolismo raggiunge il limite: trovato in stato di semi incoscienza e delirante a Baltimore, Edgar Allan Poe muore il 7 ottobre 1849.

Nonostante la vita tormentata e disordinata l'opera di Poe costituisce un corpus sorprendentemente nutrito: almeno 70 racconti, di cui uno lungo quanto un romanzo - The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838: in italiano, " Le avventure di Gordon Pym") - circa 50 poesie, almeno 800 pagine di articoli critici (una notevole mole di recensioni che ne fa uno dei critici letterari più maturi dell'epoca), alcuni saggi - The Philosophy of Composition (1846), The Rationale of Verse (1848) e The Poetic Principle (1849) - ed un poemetto in prosa di alta Filosofia - Eureka (1848) - nel quale l'autore cerca di dimostrare, con l'aiuto della Fisica e dell'Astronomia, l'avvicinamento e l'identificazione dell'Uomo con Dio.

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Edgar Allan Poe nasce il 19 gennaio 1809 a Boston, da David Poe ed Elizabeth Arnold, attori girovaghi di modeste condizioni economiche. Il padre abbandona la famiglia quando Edgar è ancora piccolo; quando dopo poco muore anche la madre, viene adottato in maniera non ufficiale da John Allan, ricco mercante della Virginia.

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ACTIVITY 1.  Read the text and complete the sentences

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ACTIVITY 1.  Read the text and complete the sentences

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"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841) is credited with being the world's first murder mystery and creating a new genre for novels, "the detective story". Similar to Poe's own personality, this story deals with rationality and irrationality, order and chaos, and surprisingly with murders which were committed by a knife wielding orangutan. (biography.com)

The Detective Story  took its shape thanks to the three stories featuring a new kind of character: the detective embodied by Auguste Dupin". The three stories are:

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue"

"The Mystery of Marie Roget"

"The Purloined Letter"

Although mysteries were not a new literary form, Poe was the first to introduce a character that solved the mystery by analyzing the facts of the case. Poe himself called his tales "tales of logical reasoning"

1. His most famous detective story is......
2. Mr Auguste Dupin is ...
3. Dupin's method is based on ...
3. Some critics compare Poe's personality with his detective stories ....
4. The murders in the short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" have been committed by .....

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"The Tell-Tale Heart" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1843. It is told by an unnamed narrator who tries to convince the reader of his sanity, while describing a murder he committed.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Analysis
Do the following activity

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Throughout the story the narrator tries to persuade the reader of his  sanity. This, however, is self-destructive, because in attempting to prove his sanity he fully admits that he is guilty of murder. His denial of insanity is based on his systematic actions and his precision, as he provides a rational explanation for irrational behavior. This rationality, however, is undermined by his lack of motive.

The relationship between the old man and the narrator is ambiguous. Their names, occupations, and places of residence are not given, contrasting with the strict attention to detail in the plot. The narrator may be a servant of the old man's or, as is more often assumed, his son. In that case, the "vulture-eye" of the old man as a father figure may symbolize parental surveillance, or the paternal principles of right and wrong. The eye may also represent secrecy: only when the eye is found open on the final night, penetrating the veil of secrecy, is the murder carried out.

The story's final scene shows the result of the narrator's feelings of guilt. Like many characters in Gothic fiction, he allows his nerves to dictate his nature. Despite his best efforts at defending himself, his "over acuteness of the senses", which help him hear the heart beating beneath the floorboards, is evidence that he is truly mad.  Poe's contemporaries may well have been reminded of the controversy over the insanity defense in the 1840s.

Adapted from Wikipedia

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Watch and listen to the video where Giancarlo Giannini performs, in Italian, "The Tell-Tale Heart! He's awesome!

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Watch and listen to the video where Giancarlo Giannini performs, in Italian, "The Tell-Tale Heart! He's awesome!

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The protagonist of Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" can be regarded as a man affected by some mental health disorders or problems. By the way, what is Mental Health? The World Health Organisation (one of the main agencies of United Nations) gives a definition of mental health. Surf the Net and write it down.
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/

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The Website Walk in my shoes raises awareness of Mental Health through support and information Go to the website and choose one among the several mental health challenges. Then discuss your choice with your classmates.

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Examples of Specific Mental Health Challenges

There are many types of mental health challenges. Here is a list of some: anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and bi-polar disorder. Some mental health challenges can lead people to do things that hurt their bodies, such as cutting or eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia.

Only a mental health professional can say if someone has a mental illness. Everyone has good days and bad days. Just because someone has a bad day does not mean he or she have a mental illness.

If you think someone you know is going through a mental health challenge, it's important to speak up. Talk to a trusted adult. This is the first step to helping someone get better.

If you think you're going through a mental health challenge, it's important to ask for help so you don't have to be scared. Remember - you can get better.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is pretty common and can make it hard to focus and sit still. ADHD makes it hard to finish things, and makes thoughts jump around. Kids who have ADHD can learn to control their thoughts and bodies by figuring out what helps them focus, or by talking to a doctor or mental health professional. Some kids with ADHD do better in school if they can do their work in a quiet room. Sometimes medicine can help too. Even though having ADHD can make some things harder, people who have ADHD are just as smart as other people. They can still do well in school and in life.

Anxiety (Panic Disorder)

Have you ever been really nervous? Maybe from a test, a speech, or a big game? When you're nervous, your heart starts pounding, you breathe fast, or your stomach might feel funny. Feeling anxious and nervous is common. But a person diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder will have these feelings suddenly and often. These strong, sudden feelings of stress or fear are called "panic attacks." A panic attack can make your chest or stomach hurt, your heart speed up, make you feel afraid, dizzy, or feel like you can't breathe. Even kids can have panic attacks.

People who have panic attacks sometimes feel scared to go places because they are afraid of having an attack. Their daily life can be scary, but they can get help, get better and be okay.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder changes the way the brain understands the world. People diagnosed with autism can have a hard time talking about their feelings, understanding people's actions, and being social. They can also be very sensitive about being touched. To a person diagnosed with autism, being hugged can be scary and uncomfortable. Kids who have autism are just as smart as other kids. They can be very good at things like math or music. Just because some things are hard for kids with autism, they are not acting mean or weird. Their brains just work in a different way. They still make friends and learn how to work and play with others.

Bi-Polar Disorder

Everybody has feelings that change. When something good happens, you feel happy. If something bad happens, you feel sad. Bi-polar disorder changes the way people feel emotions. If people have bi-polar disorder, their emotions can go from happy to sad very quickly. They can be very cheerful one moment, and very angry, sad and tired the next moment. When people with bi-polar disorder experience intense feelings of happiness it is called "mania." They can't think clearly or sleep well, and they might do things without thinking about them first. When people with bi-polar disorder feel intense sadness and tiredness, it is called "depression." Having bi-polar disorder can be very tiring and stressful. Medication can help. Talking to a mental health professional, friends and family can also help someone with bi-polar disorder learn how to manage feelings and live a healthy life.

Depression

Depression is a mental health challenge that makes people feel very sad all the time. It can change how you think, feel, and act. It can even make your body feel sick too. A person diagnosed with depression can feel so sad that it makes it hard to think clearly. Someone diagnosed with depression might feel very sad every day, or feel that nobody loves them. They might not want to do things they used to think were fun. People diagnosed with depression may not know why they feel so sad. Even if you have a good life, you can struggle with depression. It is good to have family and close friends to talk to and help when things are bad, and talking to a mental health professional about these strong feelings can help. Depression can be very hard, but people with depression can get better too, and learn how to enjoy life.

Eating Disorders

An eating disorder exists when a person's thoughts and behaviors are focused too much on food and body weight. The person may worry about being "too fat." The person may have a big fear of becoming obese. Yet, the person's weight may be quite healthy. Three of the most common types of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and extreme overeating.

Anorexia refers to weight loss that occurs from not eating.

Bulimia refers to eating large amounts of food over a short period of time followed by an attempt to get rid of the food. This getting rid of food is called "purging."

Extreme overeating is marked by eating, and eating, and eating and then having feelings of guilt and shame.

The important thing to remember is that having an eating disorder is about more than body weight and food. Behind the problem we see is something bigger - a person's sense of self-esteem, relationships, feelings, and how the person handles the stresses of life. A medical doctor, a mental health professional and a nutritionist are important helpers for this type of problem.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Sometimes if you see or live through something very scary, you can keep feeling afraid even after the scary part is over. It is normal to feel afraid sometimes, but people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) feel scared even if they are safe and there is nothing to be afraid of. Kids with PTSD might have very bad dreams that seem real, or think something bad is going to happen again. Even when they are safe, the feelings of fear are very real. Talking to a mental health professional or friends and family can help. It takes time and hard work, but kids who are diagnosed with PTSD can learn ways to handle their fears and can live healthy, happy lives.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia makes it hard for people to know what is real and what is not real. Schizophrenia can make the brain think it sees or hears things that aren't really there. A person diagnosed with schizophrenia can also start to think that people are trying to control them or read their minds. Even though the things they see, hear, believe or feel might not be true, their brains think they are real and true, and that can be very scary. Having schizophrenia does not mean a person is violent or bad. Usually people do not get this illness until their late teens or early adulthood, and there are ways to make their lives better, like therapy and medication.

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Mental Health Challenges on Walk In Our Shoes

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There are many types of mental health challenges. Here is a list of some: anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and bi-polar disorder. Some mental health challenges can lead people to do things that hurt their bodies, such as cutting or eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia.

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Try this quiz with your family or challenge your classmates