Synopsis: Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. He wrote poems, short stories and a book. Poe
invented the modern detective story. He wrote scary stories better than anyone else in America. His poem "The Raven" is the one for which he is most famous.
Early Life
Edgar Allan Poe wrote short stories and poems, and is often called the "Father of the Detective Story." People all over the world know about him. Still, his life is a bit of a mystery.
Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. His father left, and his mother died, when he was only 3 years old. He was sent to live with John and Frances Allan in Richmond, Virginia. Poe and Frances became close, but he never got along with John.
Poe and Allan fought about money. When Poe went away to school in 1826, Allan did not give him enough money. To help pay his bills, Poe gambled. He played a game where a person wins or loses money. He lost his money. Then, he went home. There he found out that the woman that he was going to marry had left him for another man.
Went To West Point
Poe set out on his own. At first, he seemed to want to be both a writer and a soldier. In 1827, he published his first book of poems, then he quickly published another one. In 1830, he went to the West Point army school. He was good at his studies, but was kicked out after a year for not doing his job. Some say that Poe wanted to be kicked out. While he was there, he fought with Allan who cut ties with him.
Then, Poe decided that he would just be a writer, and moved around looking for jobs. Poe lived in New York City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Richmond. From 1831 to 1835, he stayed in Baltimore, Maryland. He lived with his aunt, Maria Clemm, and her daughter, Virginia. Poe fell in love with his cousin, and married her in 1836.
In 1835, Poe went to work for a magazine in Richmond, where he was known for writing mean things about other writers' work. He also published some of his own work. Poe caused trouble at the magazine, and he left in 1837. Some reports say that he also drank too much. Poe went on to work at two other magazines.
Famous Stories And A Popular Poem
In the late 1830s, Poe published some of his most famous stories. One story is called "The Fall of the House of Usher." In 1841, he published "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." It is thought to be the first detective story. He also won a prize in 1843 for "The Gold Bug." It was a story about secret codes and hunting for treasure.
In 1845, Poe published a popular poem called "The Raven." It is one of his best works. He also wrote another scary story called "The Cask of Amontillado." Poe wrote more poems too, such as "The Bells."
His Mysterious Death
Virginia died in 1847. Poe was very upset. He became sick and struggled with money. On October 3, Poe was found very sick in Baltimore. He was taken to the hospital, and died on October 7. His last words were "Lord, help my poor soul."
Nobody really knows how Poe died, or what really happened in his final days. He never had real success during his life. However, after he died, Poe became one of America's most famous writers.
This question is from an Edgar Allen Poe Article.
Which sentence from the text BEST summarizes a main idea of the article?
A. At first, he seemed to want to be both a writer and a soldier.
B. Then, Poe decided that he would just be a writer, and moved around looking for jobs.
C. In the late 1830s, Poe published some of his most famous stories.
D. However, after he died, Poe became one of America's most famous writers.
