Edgar Allen Poe Obituary

 An obituary is a notice of the death of a person.  It is usually printed in the newspaper and contains a biography about the person’s life. You will use the information you gather below on Edgar Allen Poe to write his obituary. 

1.  Poe did not have a happy life.  What happened to his mother and father?

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe#Life

 
2.  Who did Edgar Allen Poe go to live with? 

http://www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/index.html

 
3.  Edgar Allen Poe was a good student and very grateful for his foster father.  However, Poe and John Allen had a fight.  What was the fight over and what happened to Poe?

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe#Life

4.  Who did Poe live with in Baltimore?

http://www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/index.html

 

 
5.  Who did Poe marry?  How old was she?  How old was he?  What was strange about their union? 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe#Life

 
6.  Poe turned to writing to make money.  This was the turning point in his writing career.  What story won him a prize and how did this start his career as a writer?

http://www.island-of-freedom.com/POE.HTM

 
7.  Poe is known as the father of what?

 http://www.mysterynet.com/edgar-allan-poe/

 
8.  Poe’s love was writing poetry.  He published a volume of poetry called “Tamerlane and Other Poems”.   How much did one copy of this poetry sell for? 

 http://poemuseum.org/poes_life/index.html

 
9.  Edgar Allen Poe lived in Philadelphia for a few years.  Where is his house located?  What makes visiting his house an unusual experience?

Poe House

 
10.  Poe battled many addictions in his life.  What were his two main addictions?

 http://www.usna.edu/EnglishDept/poeperplex/alcoholp.htm

 
11.  The events surrounding Poe’s death are a mystery.  Describe the following regarding his death:  (Use the link at the bottom of the questions)

Where was he found?
What condition was he in when they found him?
What was odd about the clothes he was wearing?
What name did Poe call out?  Did anyone find this person?
What were Poe’s final words before he died?
Nobody knows for sure how he died but there are several guesses.  What are some suggestions about what he died from?

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe#Death

 

12.  You will be writing your own obituary of Poe.  An obituary was signed by “Ludwig”.  Who is Ludwig?  What was his relationship to Poe?  How did “Ludwig” depict Poe in his obituary?

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe#Griswold.27s_.22Memoir.22

 

YOU ARE NOW READY TO WRITE POE'S OBITUARY