“The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe.pptx -...

“The Masque of the Red
Death” by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe
1809-1849

His Family and Tragic Life
❖
Born in Boston
❖
The son of traveling actors
❖
Lived a tragic and unhappy life

Tragic and Unhappy Life
❖
Mother died of
tuberculosis when
Poe was one
❖
Father deserted him
at the age of two
❖
Adopted by Mr. and
Mrs. John Allan
❖
Had constant
disagreements with
his step-father
John Allan

. . . continued
❖
Studied briefly at the University of Virginia
❖
Drinking and gambling difficulties kept him
from continuing at UVA
University of Virginia,
1856

. . .continued
❖
Received an appointment to
West Point, but provoked his own
dismissal after 2 years by getting
into trouble on purpose.
❖
Caused a final separation
between himself and step-father
West Point Crest

. . .continued
❖
In 1836 married his
14 year old cousin,
Virginia
❖
Last 12 years of life
worked as journalist,
editor, and creative
writer
Virginia Clemm

. . . continued
?
Lived in poverty
stricken
conditions most
of his life
?
In 1846 wife
died after a long
illness
Poe’s home during the
1840’s

Addiction
?
All evidence suggests
that Poe was an
alcoholic.
?
Poe also habitually used
drugs such as morphine,
opium, and laudanum to
treat depression and
other health conditions.
?
Poe had a weakened
nervous system due to a
brain lesion and a heart
condition.
?
Laudanum, a highly
addictive, opium based
medicine, was commonly
used to treat headaches
and stomach pains in
1800’s.