EDGAR ALLAN POE

The Life, Work and Influence of Edgar Poe on American Literature

Edgar Allan Poe's Life, Work and Influence on American Literature

Introduction

The illustrious American author, Edgar Allan Poe, came in to this world in 1809 on January 19. Poe's birth name was Edgar Poe. In addition to his credentials as an author, Poe was also a renowned editor, poet, literary critic and was also a part of the American Romantic Movement. Edgar Allan Poe is also known the father of detective fiction genre of novels and was also one the first experts of short story writing. Genres of mystery and murder were Poe's forte in writing. Poe's ambition to adopt novel writing as a profession was the main reason why he had to encounter throughout his life and career (www.wikipedia.org).

Early Life

Edgar Poe was the second child born to actors David Poe, Jr. and Elizabeth Hopkins Poe. Edgar Poe had two other siblings, William Leonard Poe and Rosalie Poe. Born in Boston, Massachusetts; Poe had to suffer the loss of this mother at a very young age. After the death of his mother, Poe's father abandoned him, and his siblings to lead his own life. Edgar Poe spent the next few years of his childhood in Virginia with Frances Allan and John Allan. It is his years with the Allans, that Poe got his middle name. Poe's financial misery continued when had to quit the University of Virginia due to an acute shortage of funds. After Poe left the University, he enlisted himself as a cadet in the military but could not succeed. His failures forced him part ways with the Allans. In years with the Allans, Poe was baptized in an Episcopal church in 1812. Poe received his earlier education in Irvine, Scotland in 1815 (www.wikipedia.org).

In 1820, Poe returned to Richmond and in 1824 he served as a lieutenant in the Richmond youth honor guard to celebrate the visit of Marquis of de Lafayette. Poe inherited acres of land in Richmond when his Uncle William Galt passed away in 1825. The inheritance was worth an astonishing $750000. With the newly acquired wealth, Poe purchased a two-storey home by the name of Moldavia. Poe enrolled in the University of Virginia to study languages, and became engaged to Sarah Royster. Poe's relationship with his foster parents deteriorated when he claimed his foster father had not given him sufficient amount of money to fund his education. His foster father lost a major share of Poe's wealth in gambling which increased his gambling loans (Cornelius, 2002).

Publishing Career

Poe's pursued a career in literature only after the demise of his brother William. This was a trying time to start a career in writing as American Publishing was suffering. His initial efforts encountered obstacles due to the absence of copyright laws around the world. Edgar Poe's career as a publisher started modestly with a collection of anonymous poems, Tamerlane and Other Persons, in 1827. For the next several years, Poe began to write for literary journals and gained ...