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1809-1849
Boston
Elizabeth Arnold Poe
she was an actress
December 8, 1811
tuberculosis
January 19, 1809
Edgar had an older brother, Henry, and a younger sister, Rosalie.
David Poe Jr.
actor
It is thought that he died during 1810.
David Poe Jr. abandoned his wife and children when Edgar was not yet two years old.
Edgar's father left the family before Edgar's second birthday. Edgar's mother died when Edgar was two years old. Edgar was orphaned along with his brother, Henry, and his sister, Rosalie.
Henry went to live with David Poe Jr.'s parents. David Poe Jr. was his father (who had abandoned the family a year earlier).
Edgar was taken in by John and Frances Allan after his mother's passing.
After Elizabeth Poe's passing Rosalie went to live with Mr. and Mrs. William Mackenzie.
Edgar began his formal education in 1814.
John Allan's uncle, William Galt, passed and left John with what would amount to millions of dollars today.
John Allan purchased a brick mansion with some of the money ($14,950) he received from his uncle's passing. The mansion is called "Moldavia".
Edgar is secretly engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster; Elmira's parents disapproved of Edgar because they didn't think a teenage poet could make enough money to support a wife
From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—
Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From ev’ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that ’round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass’d me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view—
CAROL-DAVIS | CERTIFIED EDUCATOR
The poem “Alone” by Edgar Allan Poe was not published during his lifetime. It was not until 1875 that the poem was verified as being an authentic Poe poem written in 1830 when Poe was only twenty-one.
The poem is basically a flashback of an adult narrator looking back at his childhood. The tone of the poem is gloomy and dark, reinforced by such words as sorrow, alone, stormy, thunder, and demon.
Poe speaks about his uniqueness. Unfortunately, he was never able to fit in and found himself melancholy throughout his childhood. In his relationships, he was often left out. The reader is better able to understand the mystery of why Poe was miserable in his life and he wrote about the subject of loss and unhappiness.
From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were — I have not seen
As others saw — I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
Poe writes explains that he was not like the other children in his outlook, his play, his enjoyment; he knew that he was not normal or happy as the others were. His joys were not the same and did not come from the same place.
He was always alone with his pleasure and loves. The mystery that holds him together came from every experience that he has had. This formed his temperament and personality. During his childhood and in the beginning of his stormy life, he is a part of both the good and bad experiences.
In some ways, he was protected from the storms, the thunder and lightning, the precipice of danger, by the sun that encompassed him. Poe may be referring to a higher power although later in life it is said that he was an atheist. As he looks back at his life, he sees the blue sky and heavens above; yet, one of the clouds appears like a demon.
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view
Poe in his life had many demons that he suppressed. From this line, the reader may wonder if Poe felt as though the devil was always at his shoulder. His way of handling his problems was with drugs and alcohol.
There are those people who because of a lack of security and love as a child never find happiness in their adulthood. They may be supremely talented, have millions of dollars, but are unable to face each day and the future without a struggle. Poe was one of those strange people. Despite his magnificent talent and even his attraction to women, he always looked for something that he did not have in his life.
This poem is especially interesting because it was written at such a young age. Obviously, Poe was already unhappy, unable to understand why he was so miserable, and longing to find a place or person who could help him find why he was the way he was.
America's Library. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2017, from http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/nation/jb_nation_poe_1.html
Davis, C. (n.d.). What is the meaning of the poem "Alone" by Edgar Allan Poe and how does it relate specifically to Poe? Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-metaphorical-meaning-poem-alone-by-edgar-373076
Giove, N. (2011, February 05). Alone - by Edgar Allan Poe. Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lqoSby32ok
Poe, E. (n.d.). "Alone" by Edgar Allan Poe. Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46477/alone-56d2265f2667d
John Allan sent Edgar away to the University of Virginia with only $110 to cover classes, rent, food, furniture, and personal expenses.
Edgar's classes alone cost $60. Edgar tries to contact John Allan for more money but he will not give Edgar any additional money.
Edgar is broke and tries his hand at gambling, he incurs gambling debt and has to drop out of school.
Poe writes and prints his first book, "Tamerlane and other Poems"
Poe enlists in the United States Army under the name Edgar A. Perry. Men in the army were volunteers, they signed up for 5-year terms.
Edgar was smarter and more educated than most of the other enlisted men; after only 19 months he had already risen to the highest rank for an enlisted man. If he wanted any more promotions he would have to study to become an officer at West Point.
Edgar's foster mother, Frances Allan, dies from tuberculosis.
Edgar obtains leave from the army and arrives in Richmond on the evening following her burial.
Poe enters West Point to study to become an officer.
Edgar gets bored during his second term because the school is too rigid and structured for him. He decides that military life is not for him and started missing classes and ignoring commands in hopes that he would get kicked out of school.
Poe publishes his second book "Poems of Edgar A. Poe"
Edgar gets kicked out of West Point which is what he wanted.
Edgar lives in Baltimore with aunt, Maria Clemm, and her daughter, Virginia
Soon after Poe moved to Baltimore his brother, Henry, died of tuberculosis
John Allan dies and Poe inherits nothing (he was left out of John Allan's will)
Poe wins a contest for "The Manuscript Found in a Bottle"
Edgar and Virginia get married
The couple lie about Virginia's age on the marriage certificate; Virginia is 13 when they get married but the marriage certificate says she was 21
Moore, F. (n.d.). Behind the Lit: Edgar Allan Poe Marries His 13-Year-Old Cousin. Retrieved October 22, 2017, from http://airshipdaily.com/blog/09222014-edgar-allan-poe-virginia-eliza-clemm
Pictures Of Wedding Bells And Doves #2039884. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2017, from http://clipart-library.com/clipart/6ir5oppMT.htm
Poe writes "The Fall of the House of Usher"
"Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque", Poe's first volume of short stories, is published
Poe writes "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" the very first detective mystery
Virginia sings for Edgar and friends and begins coughing up blood; it is confirmed that Virginia has tuberculosis
"The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat" are published
Poe wins a $100 prize for "The Gold Bug"
Edgar writes "The Raven"
Virginia Poe dies of tuberculosis
November: Poe begins to court New England widow and poetess Sarah Helen Whitman. After considerable effort, he manages to secure a promise of marriage. Mrs. Whitman is concerned about his reputation for drinking. Poe pledges to quit drinking.
December 23: Poe fails to quit drinking and Mrs. Whitman calls off the engagement.
Edgar is engaged to widow Sarah Elmira (Royster) Shelton, former fiancee
Poe is found delirious in Baltimore
Edgar Allan Poe dies in a Baltimore hospital
What happens after death? What to expect when your loved one crosses over. (2014, February 06). Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.amandalinettemeder.com/blog/what-happens-after-death-what-to-expect-when-your-deceased-loved-one-transitions
Chronology of the Life of Edgar Allan Poe. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poechron.htm
Edgar Allan Poe Museum : Poe's life, legacy, and Works : Richmond, Virginia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.poemuseum.org/
Poe's Works and Timeline page. Timeline from the Educator Packet.
Gigliotti, J. (2015). Who was Edgar Allan Poe? New York: Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House.