Reflections on Edgar Allan Poe

Our class has spent the past couple of week learning all about the author Edgar Allan Poe.  Before conducting this research on Poe, I had known very little about him juxtaposed to what I know now.  Last year, I had studied a small fragment of his famous poem, The Raven.  That was basically my main source of information.  But now, I know much, much more.

Most people know Poe for his writing, that wasn't really even famous at the time.  He published all kinds of fantastic work, some of which I've experienced, like The Raven, or The Tell-Tale Heart.  He put tons of thought and feeling into his work that no other author has matched in my opinion.  It takes the reader a good amount of time to interpret what his writing actually means to them.  Although, I think the base of all that, or what it all boils down to, is Poe's childhood and life during, and before he started writing.

As some might know, Edgar Allan Poe didn't lead a very lively and perfect childhood.  Think about these questions for a minute.  Have you ever had the feeling that you are the most unlucky person in the world, or are having a really bad day?  What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you?  Once you have thought about those questions, listen to what Poe had to go through his whole life.  Poe's mother died when he was very young, only 2 years old!  He then moved in with foster parents John and Frances Allan.  John, his father was very mean and often neglected Poe.  He might not have always been brutally beating him, but when he wasn't he didn't give much sympathy towards him.  His foster mother, who was fair to him, died when Poe was 20 leaving him with no one to care for.  Later in life, he marries his cousin!  That may sound pretty weird now, but it was perfectly normal back then.  Finally, to top of Poe's wonderful life, travelers found him brutally beat down, dehydrated, wounded, and delirious on a trail a few days before he died.  Now how do you think about the questions asked before?

One good think that comes out of Poe's life, is its impact on others.  It completely astounds me how Edgar Allan Poe transferred all the sadness, grief, and depression that followed him wherever he went, through his pen, and into his writing.  His life and background really affected how he created his work.  It's fun to imagine if his writing would be just as good if he led a great life.