Historical Analysis

The Balloon Hoax

By Edgar Allen Poe

The Story

THE END

The Actual Crossing of the Atlantic

The real crossings of the Atlantic in a hot air balloon did not occur until 100 years after the story was written, in 1978. When Edgar Allen Poe conjured this story within his mind, there did not exist even plans for an airborne way of traveling through the air. The Wright Brothers were not even born at this time!

Society

• "The Balloon" was a reflection of the advancement the world was going through.

This story was written in the middle if the industrial revolution. It caused so much animation because everyone was infatuated with progress and an improvement of technology.

Reception

It was a detailed account of the first ever crossing of the Atlantic in a balloon. The story caused uproar and the paper was sold out within minutes. All the facts described in the article were supported by scientific facts. Everyone felt that "This [was] unquestionably the most stupendous, the most interesting, and the most important undertaking ever accomplished or even attempted by man."

It contained incredible details into the structure and mechanics of the contraption, even the altitude of the balloon was plausible. Mr. Allen Poe even used real people to further improve the story's reliability

The public loved this story, they thought it was true and were very excited to think that a mere balloon had actually carried someone across an ocean.

Retraction

Connection

"The Sun," the newspaper the story had been published in had to admit the story has only a hoax three days later. Everyone was very disappointed.

Mr. Poe wrote this story to get back at the editor of the newspaper he was working at because Poe thought he had stolen a previous story (The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall/The Great Moon Hoax) and hadn't given Poe any of the credit.

Edgar Allen Poe was beside himself, and amused when he saw that people were "[desperate]to get in possession of a newspaper."

• Edgar was in huge debt and had no job or friends. His stories weren't very popular and he did not get financial support.

Poe's Woes

• Edgar Poe was born Jan. 19, 1809. When he was two, his mom (Elizabeth) died. He was split up from his siblings and adopted into a different family.
• Unfortunately, Edgar was very unhappy throughout his life. He quit school fell, into alcoholism and suffered heartache. Many of his stories are very dark and somber as a result.