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EDGAR ALLAN POE AND “THE BLACK CAT”

By Mirko Casarotto
  • Edgar Allan Poe was born on the 19th of January 1809 in Boston

    Edgar Allan Poe was born on the 19th of January 1809 in Boston

  • When he was 2 years old his father abandoned his family.

    When he was 2 years old his father abandoned his family.

  • A little bit later his mother died leaving Edgar, his brother and his sister orphans.

    A little bit later his mother died leaving Edgar, his brother and his sister orphans.

  • His childhood life

    His childhood life

    They were separated and Edgar was adopted by Allen family
    John Allen his step father was a successful tradesman so he could attend good schools but their relationship was very bad
    His step mother couldn’t have children so she loved him very much
    Since he was a kid he loved spending time reading magazines, he started writing poems at the age of 14 years old.
  • His life at school

    His life at school

    At the age of 17 he was already attending The University of Virginia but his father stopped sending him money. He started drinking and became an alcohol addict and he had to leave the college.
  • His army career

    His army career

    Without money and without a job he decided to enter (to enlist) the US Army in 1827. He was 18 years old.
  • his first book without approval

    his first book without approval

    In the same year he published his first book: “TAMERLANE AND OTHER POEMS” by a Bostonian because his father didn’t want him to write and to become a writer and he didn’t want to be discovered.
  • Edgar’s stepfather

    Edgar’s stepfather

    His stepfather John Allen at this point decided to make up with his son and got him in a place to continue his studies in the Military Academy at West Point in 1830.
    In the same year his father married again.
  • The death of Edgar’s stepfather

    The death of Edgar’s stepfather

    In 1834 his father died without including him in his will.
  • Edgar’s married

    Edgar’s married

    When he was 27 the poet married his cousin Virginia and he was only 13 years old.
  • The death of his mother, brother, wife

    The death of his mother, brother, wife

    In 1847 when he was only 24 the same age of her biological mother and older brother when they died, his wife died of tuberculosis.
  • His death

    His death

    In the end he died on October 7th 1849 maybe because of brain congestion or his alcoholism but his death still remains a great mystery since the death certificate never appeared.