Edgar Allen Poe

Many authors have made great contributions to the world of

literature. Mark Twain introduced Americans to life on the

Mississippi. Thomas Hardy wrote on his pessimistic views of the

Victorian Age. Another author that influenced literature is Edgar

Allan Poe. Poe is known as the father of the American short story and

father of the detective story. To understand the literary

contributions of Edgar Allan Poe, one must look at his early life, his

literary life, and a summary of two of his famous works.

"Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston'' (Inglis 505) "on

January 19, 1809'' (Asselineau 409). He was born to a southern family

that were in a traveling company of actors (Inglis 505). His father,

David Poe, was from a Baltimore family. He was an actor by profession

and a heavy drinker. Soon after Edgar Allan Poe was born, he left his

family. Poe's mother, Elizabeth Arnold Poe, was a widow at the age of

eighteen. Two years after his birth, she died of tuberculosis

(Asselineau 409). When his mother died, Poe was adopted by John Allan

(Perry XI) at the urging of Mr. Allan's wife. In 1815, John Allan

moved his family to England. While there, Poe was sent to private

schools (Asselineau 410).

In the spring of 1826, Poe entered the University of

Virginia. There he studied Spanish, French, Italian, and Latin. He

had an excellent scholastic record. He got into difficulties almost

at once. Mr. Allan did not provide him with the money to pay for his

fees and other necessities. Poe was confused and homesick. He

learned to play cards and started drinking. Soon he was in debt in

excess of two thousand dollars. Poe discovered that he could not

depend upon Allan for financial support. His foster father refused to

pay his debts, and Poe had to withdraw from the University (Asselineau

410).

In May of 1827, Poe enlisted in the army as a common soldier.

He did this under the name of Edgar A. Perry. He was stationed on

Sullivan's Island in Charleston Harbor for over a year. Poe adapted

very well to military discipline and quickly rose to the rank of

regimental sergeant major. After a while, he got tired of the same

daily routine involved in military life. Poe wrote regularly to Mr.

Allan. He met with Mr. Allan after the death of Mrs. Allan in

February of 1829. With Allan's support, he received his discharge and

enlisted in West Point on July 1, l830 (Asselineau 410). While at

West Point, Mr. Allan, who had remarried, continued in not providing

Poe with enough money. Poe decided to have himself kicked out of

school. Cutting classes and disregarding orders were his solutions.

He was court-martialed for neglect of duties in January, 1831, and

left West Point the following month (Asselineau 411).

"Poe was great in three different fields , and in each one he

made a reputation that would give any man a high place in literary

history. Poe wrote great short stories, famous not only in his

own country, but all over the world (Robinson V)." "Hawthorne,

Irving, Balzac, Bierce, Crane, Hemingway and other writers