Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe

Many authors have made great contributions to the world of

literature. Mark Twain introduced Americans to life on the

Mississippi. Thomas Hardy wrote on his pessimistic views of the

Victorian Age. Another author that influenced literature is Edgar

Allan Poe. Poe is known as the father of the American short story and

father of the detective story. To underezd the literary

contributions of Edgar Allan Poe, one must look at his early life, his

literary life, and a summary of two of his famous works.

"Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston'' (Inglis 505) "on

January 19, 1809'' (Asselineau 409). He was born to a southern family

that were in a traveling company of actors (Inglis 505). His father,

David Poe, was from a Baltimore family. He was an actor by profession

and a heavy drinker. Soon after Edgar Allan Poe was born, he left his

family. Poe's mother, Elizabeth Arnold Poe, was a widow at the age of

eighteen. Two years after his birth, she died of tuberculosis

(Asselineau 409). When his mother died, Poe was adopted by John Allan

(Perry XI) at the urging of Mr. Allan's wife. In 1815, John Allan

moved his family to England. While there, Poe was sent to private

schools (Asselineau 410).

In the spring of 1826, Poe entered the University of

Virginia. There he studied Spanish, French, Italian, and Latin. He

had an excellent scholastic record. He got into difficulties almost

at once. Mr...

Edgar Allan Poe

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