Edgar Allan Poe was an extraordinary writer. Born during the Romanic Era in literature, Poe managed shock readers of his time and the modern readers, with terrifying, gruesome plots. Two of his literary works, "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Tell-Tale Heart", are perfectly evident of Poe's style. The stories entice the reader with the brilliant use of first-person narration, creating the theme of psychological terror. Poe's style of writing is almost always associated with death, in which the protagonists are exposed to supernatural occurrences. One cannot help but to experience the emotions of the narrators while reading these stories.
Edgar Allan Poe is an infamous writer best known for his poems and short fiction. He created the detective story and perfected the psychological thriller. Poe also produced some of the most influential literary criticism of his time. He had a very troubled life filled with poverty and abandonment. It is apparent that his life story contributes to his gothic infatuation for the death of a beautiful woman, and the psychological thriller, the themes in most of his work.
Born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts, Poe was subject to poverty. Both of his parents were traveling actors. David Poe Jr., his father, deserted the family only one year after Poe was born. The following year, Poe's mother Elizabeth Arnold Poe, died while young Edgar and his sister were present by her side. She died of consumption, once called phthisis, which involves spitting up blood (Hoffman 25). Edgar was only two years old when he was taken into the home of John Allan, a fairly prosperous Scotch merchant, and his childless wife, Frances. Not having any children of her own, Frances loved Poe as if he were her biological son. .
The new family moved to England when Poe was six years old. Edgar studied there before the family returned to America. Poe attended The University of Virginia where he incurred various gambling debts.