This article was written by Elijah Emory-Muhammad of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer with a diverse range of talents—from being an imaginative poet, to being an astute literary critic and editor. He is also accredited to “[giving] birth to the modern detective story.” However, his profound impact on the literary world stemmed from an early love for poetry.
The renowned poet was born on Jan. 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts to traveling actors David Poe Jr. and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe. Unfortunately, Poe never really got to be raised by his birth parents because they both died within three years of his birth. Poe then became an orphan and was eventually taken in by John and Frances Allan. Although Edgar enjoyed a pleasant bond with Frances, the wife of John, she passed in 1827 due to tuberculosis and little remained of his connection to his foster father John.
The bad blood between Poe and his foster father is said to have originated from Poe not wanting to take over the family tobacco business. Instead, Poe was more interested in poetry, inspired by his childhood hero, the British poet Lord Byron. Another reason why Poe’s relationship with his foster father was strained is that his father did not supply him with nearly enough money to attend college, the University of Virginia. This made Poe rack up some hefty debts as he turned to gambling and eventually dropped out of school, returning home.
Poe’s life was indeed stricken with tragedy, which influenced a lot of his works. After returning from college, Poe’s heart was broken after finding out that his fiancée ended up getting engaged to another man. He then left home to attend West Point Military Academy, as his relationship with his foster father was shattering. Nevertheless, Poe was expelled in less than a year for disobedience and neglecting his duties.
He would then go on to find a new home in Baltimore under the wing of his blood-related aunt, Maria Clemm, where he met Virginia Clemm—his cousin and future wife. Their marriage would not last very long, as Virginia would die of tuberculosis at the age of 24, the same way both his mothers died and at the same age as his birth mother. 2 years later, Poe would write his famed poem “The Raven” which may have been influenced by his wife’s passing. Not long after, the distressed Poe would die himself on Oct. 7, 1849, to reasons unknown and riddled with speculation.
All throughout his later life, Poe would write and travel across cities giving lectures discussing poetic theories. The aforementioned poem “The Raven” would delve into themes of death and loss, as the narrator in the poem struggles to come to terms with his wife’s death. The prequel to this poem is “Lenore,” a poem that has the narrator spite those who wished for his wife’s death. Another poem worth mentioning is “Annabel Lee,” a poem in which the narrator reasons that the love of his life died due to the jealousy of others. Poe’s writings showed how he was adept at using sensory details and eliciting mood. His works are now key in analyzing the dark and Gothic writing styles, which he is most aptly known for.
Poe’s other works of short, horror and detective stories would influence the literary world as well. Arthur Conan Doyle himself, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, admitted that the modern detective story required “Poe [to breathe] the breath of life into it.” Overall, Poe pioneered the use of imagination to create unique stories and poems. Not to mention he was one of the first notable figures to advocate for higher wages for writers and copyright laws protecting their works. Poe’s legacy today is upheld by museums throughout the world and his contributions to the literary world will continue to be honored.
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