Many may argue
that Poe's writings are not the best. Many people argue that Poe just gets a
pen and paper and starts jibber-jabbering until he finishes a paragraph. I can
see this point of view, because Poe does use a lot of old-English in his writings,
so it may be hard to read for someone who doesn't like big words, or reading a lot
all.
1) no one knows why he died. He left for Baltimore on September the 26th, with a weak pulse and a fever, according to his fiance. He visited his friend as he left town, accidentally taking his friend's walking stick, something that he would never do normally (he took pride in his appearance). He was discovered on a Baltimore street, wearing someone else's clothes, on October the third. Someone sent for a doctor Poe was acquainted with. The doctor took him to his clinic, where he spoke deliriously for a few days. He woke from his delirium on October the seventh long enough to say "Lord help my poor soul," and then he died.Over 20 theories regarding his death exist. One of the most accepted theories was that some henchmen were hired by a politician to drug passerby and force them to vote for said politician. Poe was found on election day, and this was not so uncommon. They would used the drugged men to vote repeatedly, which may explain his clothing. A more recent theory is that he died of a brain tumor. And, of course, there is the possibility that he contracted rabies.
2) He joined the army under the false name "Edgar A. Perry."
3) He was only paid $9 for "The Raven."
4) His madness and drunkenness are largely exaggerations: they are a product of a man named Rufus Griswold who wrote an anonymous, false, and scathing obituary for Poe. He also published a false biography of him. Griswold was upset because of a negative review Poe wrote about one of his works years earlier. Extremely vengeful, he seemed determined to make sure the world falsely thought of Poe as an evil man.
5) Poe played games on the lawn with his wife. She was much younger than he, and there are stories of them playing leapfrog. One account says during a game of leapfrog, he split his pants, and blushed furiously. His young wife could not stop giggling.
6) He loved the fame "The Raven" brought him. The Raven actually became his nickname, and there are stories of children walking behind him on the street and flapping there arms and cawing. Poe would play along by turning suddenly and saying "Nevermore." The children would scream and run away, and he'd chuckle a bit. Then the children would return and repeat the process.
7) He never in his life signed anything "Edgar Allan Poe." The name Allan came from the family who took him in, and he didn't get along very well with his foster father. He therefore signed documents Edgar A. Poe, or E. A. Poe. The name Edgar Allan Poe was given to him after he died by Griswold (see number 4).
8) He was never officially adopted by the Allan family.
9) He loved his foster mother, but he and his foster father never got along. One reason why that may have been is that when Mr. Allan was unfaithful to his wife. Poe was fiercely loyal to Mrs. Allan, who was dying of tuberculosis. It is rumored that John Allan would have affairs with women in the same house where Mrs. Allan lay dying. Poe called him out on this, and they never saw eye to eye after that. Poe threatened to reveal Allan's secret, but never did for fear of ruining Mrs. Allan's name.
10) He was poor all of his life. His foster father was a rich man, but upon his death he left Poe nothing, though he left money to many of his illegitimate children. He had long stopped supporting Poe financially
Source:"Edgar Allan Poe: An Illustrated Companion to His Tell-Tale Stories"
I really enjoyed reading all of the interesting facts about Poe. Which fact is your favorite? I too enjoy his writings because of their fluidity. Great post!
ReplyDeleteWow, you began reading him in fourth grade!? I always knew that his poems rhymed, but never really noticed it in AABBC format. I never bothered to think much of it.
ReplyDelete