Edgar Allan Poe Research Paper

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston. His mother, Elizabeth Arnold, and father, David Poe, were both struggling performers. His father drank heavily and abandoned him and his family in 1810. The next year, his mother died in 1811. Poe was left orphaned and only wanted to be loved.

Poe was taken in by a tobacco merchant and a young woman by the names of Allan and Frances Allan. Even though Poe was not every formally adopted by the couple he took the last name of “Allan” as a middle name for himself.

Allan was very disappointed in Poe because he wanted to be a poet instead of a follower in Allan’s footsteps, Allan made sure Poe knew it. These behaviors added to Poe’s unpredictable mood.

Poe fell in love with a young lady by the name of Elmira Royster, then he had a secret engagement but the news spread quickly, as soon as Elmira’s family found out it, was called off. Her family knew Poe would get none of Allan's money.

Poe had very little money and began to gamble, he quickly was overrun with debt. Allan then withdrew him from college and left him to figure the debt out on his own.

Poe attempted to publish a book of poems in 1827 called “Tamerlane”, no one found any interest in the book. Poe had no job and no income so he resorted to joining the army, he was ranked as “Sergeant Major”. After earning this rank he soon deserted the army. Frances has passed away in 1829, Allan then helped him move to West