Edgar Allan Poe (1809 – 1849) was a 19th century American writer, editor and literary critic who is regarded as one of the greatest poets and short story writers of his era. Poe was a controversial figure during his time due to his being a ruthless literary critic who wrote caustic reviews of literary works of other writers. On January 29, 1845, Poe’s poem The Raven appeared in the New York Evening Mirror. It became an immediate popular sensation making Edgar Allan Poe a household name. The poetry of Poe is famous for its dark romanticism, a literary sub-genre of romanticism, reflecting fascination with the irrational, the demonic and the grotesque. Apart from poetry, Poe was one of the earliest practitioners of the short story and he is credited with creating the first recorded detective in the literary world. Know all about Edgar Allan Poe including his biography, interesting facts about him, his most famous poems and his best quotes.
BIOGRAPHY
After his father abandoned the family and his mother died, Poe was raised by his foster parents, John Allan and his wife Frances Allan. Though Poe wanted to become a writer from an early age, circumstances forced him to join the army at the age of 18. It was only in the early 1830s that Poe was able to dedicate his time to a full time writing career. He went on to work for a number of newspapers including Southern Literary Messenger, Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine, Graham’s Magazine and Broadway Journal. Poe struggled financially throughout his life. Moreover, his life was marred by tragedies including the death of his wife Maria Clemm in 1847. Poe died two years later under mysterious circumstances. Know about the family, education, career, marriage and death of Edgar Allan Poe through his biography.
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INTERESTING FACTS
Edgar Allan Poe remains a towering figure in world literature due to his many contributions. He was controversial during his time due to his being a ruthless literary critic who wrote caustic reviews of literary works of other writers. Poe was able to achieve nationwide renown due to his poem The Raven but, despite being well known, he struggled financially throughout his life. There are many interesting facts related to Poe including his knack for cryptography; his publishing a hoax article; a mysterious man visiting his grave every January 19th; and a writer claiming that his ghost helped her in composing her poems. Know more about Edgar Allan Poe through these 10 interesting facts.
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FAMOUS POEMS
Romanticism was a 19th century literary movement that laid emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of the past and of nature. The poetry of Poe is famous for its dark romanticism, a literary sub-genre of romanticism, reflecting fascination with the irrational, the demonic and the grotesque. The favorite theme of Poe was the death of a beautiful woman which he called “the most poetical topic in the world”. His poems appear throughout popular culture and lines from them are often quoted. Here are the 10 most famous poems by Edgar Allan Poe including The Raven, Eldorado, The Bells and Annabel Lee.
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QUOTATIONS
1. “I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.”
2. “Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.”
3. “Science has not yet taught us if madness is or is not the sublimity of the intelligence.”
4. “Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.”
5. “To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.”
6. “I need scarcely observe that a poem deserves its title only inasmuch as it excites, by elevating the soul. The value of the poem is in the ratio of this elevating excitement.”
7. “The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world.”
8. “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”
9. “We loved with a love that was more than love.”
10. “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.“