Edgar Allen Poe

Hannah Duncan

Mr.Smink

Am Literature

23 December 2016

Edgar Allen Poe

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before” (Poe 25-26 310). Poe's life was very depressing, which helped his inspiration for his dark stories. Poe was separated from his parents and siblings at birth, and went on to watch the rest of his family die around him - these dark events in his life influenced his unique and creepy style of writing.

Poe was adopted by John and Frances Valentine Allan when he was only 3. Being adopted is a very hard thing to deal with especially at a young age. “Poe never really knew his parents” (Biography.com) His mother died from a very common disease and his father left at an early age. It was probably very hard for Poe to have his mom die and have his father not want him. On top of that he will probably never see his siblings again. “Separated from his brother William and sister. Rosalie” (Biography.com). Being separated from his brother and sister was very difficult for Poe. He was really close with them and I can not imagine how Poe felt during that time.

When Poe got older he was studying at the University of Virginia. “ Where he excelled in his classes” (biography.com). He was only at college for less than a year before he started drinking heavily and went into debt from gambling. He turned to gambling because his adopted father John Allen would not pay for college, even tho John was a wealthy merchant. “He returned home only to face another personal setback—his neighbor and fiancée Sarah Elmira Royster had become engaged to someone else” (Biography.com) Poe was very upset and devastated. After hearing all of this he turned to drinking to take away the pain. Which is definitely not the smartest idea. Most of Poe's poems are about being heartbroken and longing for a lady. One of the major inspirations of Poe's career was his wife Virginia, as well as her death. Coming from her death came some of his most well known poems such as “Annabel Lee.”

One year later Poe went to pursue a career in the army. “Edgar went to Boston and joined the U.S. Army in 1827” (Poestories.com). About two years later he learned that his adopted mother was dying of a very common disease called Tuberculosis. “but by the time he returned to Richmond she had already