Edgar Allan Poe & Gothic Fiction

• Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849) was the 1st American Professional Writer; he invented the “Mystery/Detective”, horror, & Gothic fiction genre, also inspired the making of Sci-Fi genre; became a major figure in the world of literature
• Edgar Allan Poe became addicted to gambling at a young age
• After the death of his wife, Virginia Clemm, Edgar Allan Poe suffered from depression, alcoholism, & other health issues
• Edgar Allan Poe wrote "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "Anabel Lee" - a poem made after Virginia Clemm/his wife’s death
• Famous Works by Edgar Allan Poe

  • Anabel Lee
  • The Raven
  • The Cask of Amontillado
  • The Fall of the House of Usher
  • The Tell-Tale Heart
• At 2 years old, after the death of his parents, John & Frances Allan, a couple from Richmond, Virginia, took him in
• Edgar Allan Poe was found in a state of semi-consciousness in Baltimore, Maryland


  October 3, 1849
• Edgar Allan Poe married Virginia Clemm


  1836
• Edgar Allan Poe published 2nd collection of “Al Araf Tamerine” & “Minor Poems”


  1829
• Parents of Edgar Allan Poe

  • Frances & John Allan (foster parents)
  • Eliza & David Poe (biological parents)
  • Maria Clemm (aunt of Edgar & mother of Virginia)
  • Virginia Clemm (Edgar’s 13 yr old cousin & wife)
• Summary: 'Edgar Allan Poe, born in 1809, was a pioneering American writer known for his contributions to mystery, horror, and gothic fiction genres. Despite his literary success, he struggled with personal challenges, including gambling addiction and the loss of his wife, Virginia Clemm, who died of tuberculosis. This tragedy deeply affected Poe, exacerbating his struggles with depression and alcoholism. Some of his most famous works include "The Raven," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and "The Fall of the House of Usher." Poe's mysterious death in 1849, attributed to possible causes such as alcohol poisoning or rabies, adds to the enigmatic legacy of this influential writer'
• Edgar Allan Poe was taken to Washington Medical College, where he remained in a delirious state until his death; there are theories that he died from rabies


  October 7, 1849
• Edgar Allan Poe attended various schools in England & Richmond Virginia; he dropped out of school a few years later for financial problems due to his gambling addiction which tarnished his relationship with his foster father
• Edgar Allan Poe became the editor of the Southern Literary Messenger


  1835
• Edgar Allan Poe's wife, Virginia Clemm, died from tuberculosis


  1847
• Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts


  January 19, 1809
• Gothic Fiction began


  Late 18th century
• Victorian Period gothic fiction writers

  • Charles Dickens
  • Mary Shelley
  • Robert Louis Stevenson in England
  • Edgar Allan Poe in the US
• Gothic Fiction is writing that employs dark & picturesque scenery, startling, & melodramatic narrative devices & an overall atmosphere of exoticism, mystery, fear, & dread
• Gothic Fiction was prevalent in the Victorian period
• Elements of Gothic Fiction

  • Dark/mysterious setting
  • Presence of the supernatural
  • Grotesque creatures
• Gothic Fiction genre books

  • The Cask of Amontillado
  • The Raven
• Vocabulary in "The Cask of Amontillado"

  • Connoisseurship - expertness
  • Virtuoso - highly gifted
  • Motely - clothing of different color
  • Pipe - a large barrel
  • Amontillado - a pale, dry sherry, much esteemed, originating in Montilla, Spain
  • Roquelaire - knee-length coat
  • Flambeaux - torch
  • Medoc - a wine from Medoc, in Europe
  • Nemu me impune lacessit - no one harms/insults me with impunity
  • Puncheons - a short, upright wooden path
  • De Grave - a light wine
  • Fettered - tied
  • In pace requiescat - May he rest in peace
• Summary: 'Gothic Fiction, prominent in the Victorian era, features dark settings, supernatural elements, and melodramatic narratives, fostering an atmosphere of mystery and dread. Writers like Charles Dickens, Mary Shelley, and Edgar Allan Poe explored this genre, with notable works including "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Raven." Typical elements include eerie landscapes and grotesque characters. Notably, Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" employs rich vocabulary, such as "connoisseurship" and "virtuoso," adding depth to its narrative'