Edgar Allan Poe example essay topic

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston Massachusetts. His mother was an English actress named Elizabeth Arnold. His father, David Poe was an Irish actor. Poe's father deserted the family and his mother died when he was three years old. This was only the beginning of the tragedies that plagued Poe and his entire life. John Allan, a wealthy tobacco exporter and his wife Nancy adopted Edgar, and he took Allan as part of his name.

Poe was educated in London in boarding schools. Later on he attended the University of Virginia. It was at this university that he wrote, "Tamerlane", his first serious poem. Edgar Allan Poe affected society with his poems, short stories and his death.

Edgar Allan Poe affected society with his short stories. "Some years ago Edward Shanks justifies his writings of a book on Poe on the ground that Poe was "The man through whom was made America's first great contribution to the literature of the world". ". (Anderson 56) This shows that he gained respect from society. By gaining respect from society, Poe was able to become a very remembered writer. "Whether or not Poe invented the short story, it is certain that he originated the novel of detection".

(Nelson 96) This shows that Poe created his own genre of literature. By creating his own genre, Poe was able to stand out more. By people's opinions and creating his own genre, Poe will have an impact forever on society. Another way Edgar Allan Poe affected society was with his poems. "His stories are imaginative and his poems are musical.

In both genres he was impressively romantic. The effect of his work upon the imagination is vivid and haunting". (Quinn 12) This shows that his poems were very unique. By creating unique poems, Poe was able to relate to several different audiences. "Once when he read a short story written specially for his friends, someone laughingly claimed that the hero's name, "G affy" was repeated too often. Before the others could object, Poe hurled his manuscript into the fire". (web) This shows that he was a perfectionist and wanted his work to be appreciated.

By being a perfectionist, Poe was able to become a master at poetry and short stories. By creating unique poems and being a perfectionist Poe's impact on society will place him as one of History's most brilliant writers. Finally, Edgar Allan Poe affected society with his death. "After his return north he was found unconscious on a Baltimore street. In a brief obituary, the Baltimore Clipper reported that Poe had died of "congestion of the brain".

". (Quinn 39) This shows that people believed that Poe died drunk and crazy. By dieing drunk and crazy, his reputation was tattered, but not his body of works. "It is Poe's personality which has remained the inexplicable yet tangible core of his appeal. He was and still is a tantalizing mystery". (Anderson 43) This shows that Poe is still a constant subject of discussion.

People are still trying to figure out who was the man behind the poetry. By remaining such an enigma he is certainly to stay popular for many, many years to come. By his death and remaining such an enigma, Poe will long be a topic of conversation among intellectuals. Edgar Allan Poe's writings were influenced by his childhood experiences, "Edgar's childhood with the Allan's was idyllic. The couple was well off and had no children of their own. Edgar was soon somewhat spoiled by his foster mother whom Edgar called, "Ma".

". (Anderson 18) This shows that Edgar had a good and loving foundation with his foster mother. By having a good and loving foundation with his foster mother, helped Poe to reconcile with his foster father later on. In 1815, the Allan's and Edgar moved to England.

It was very hard for Edgar being only six years old and living away from home. (web) This shows that Poe needed the loving support of a family. By needing the loving support of a family, Poe was therefore unable to adjust at various boarding schools. By having a good and loving foundation with his foster mother and needing loving support of a family, but not receiving it, contributed to his normal writings and also his writings of loneliness and despair. Edgar Allan Poe's writings were influenced by his mother and father's death.

Poe's father walked out on his family and died around 1810. ( . island-of-freedom / poe. htm) This shows that this was one of the early tragedies that plagued Poe's life. By having many tragedies that plagued his life, Poe became unstable and became an alcoholic. "On December 8, 1811, Poe's mother Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe died. She left Edgar a small watercolor portrait of herself and two small sketches she had drawn of Boston scenes". (web) This shows that Poe's mother wanted him to grow up to appreciate art. By appreciating art, Poe grew into an extremely talented and prolific writer.

By having many tragedies in his life and appreciating art, Poe became a writer of horror and whimsy. Edgar Allan Poe's writings were influenced by his childhood experiences. Records at the University of Virginia indicate Poe was an eclectic reader. (Quinn 28) This shows that Poe enjoyed reading a wide range of subjects. By Poe's interest in reading a wide range of subjects, perhaps led to the wide variety of his writings. "In 1826, Poe enrolled at the University of Virginia.

There he acquired gambling debts that John Allan refused to pay. Eventually, Poe was forced to withdraw from the University". (web) This shows that Poe began a reckless lifestyle at a young age. By being reckless at an early age, he continued this behavior throughout his life which caused him to lose many jobs and ultimately led to his death. His interest in reading broad subjects and being reckless at an early age influenced Poe's creative writing process. Poe led a tragic yet colorful life. He seemed to be his own worst enemy.

His gambling and drinking always caught up with him and ruined whatever endeavor he embarked on. The genre of Edgar Allan Poe's writings was romanticism, and Gothicism. He was admired by his peers and by many people today. His works are studied in schools and colleges around the world. Poe is most remembered by his poem, "The Raven". He will remain the master of all diabolic fiction.