The Mysterious Past of Edgar Allen Poe: Why did he start writing?

The Mysterious Past of Edgar Allen Poe: Why did he start writing?

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the life of Edgar Allen Poe and his motivations for writing.

Introduce the learning objective of the lesson to the class.

What do you already know about Edgar Allen Poe and his writing?

Introduction

Edgar Allen Poe is a renowned author who wrote many mysteries and horror stories. However, did you know that his life was as mysterious as his stories?

Introduce the topic of the lesson and engage students with a question such as 'Have you read any of Edgar Allen Poe's works?'

Early Life

Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston in 1809. His father left the family when he was only two years old, and his mother passed away when he was just a teenager. He was then taken in by John Allan, a wealthy merchant, and his wife Frances. However, he never felt accepted as part of the family.

Explain the early life of Edgar Allen Poe and how it may have shaped his future.

Education and Military Career

Edgar attended the University of Virginia but dropped out due to financial issues. He then joined the military, but he was dismissed after two years. During this time, he started writing poems and short stories.

Discuss the education and military career of Edgar Allen Poe and how they led to his writing career.

Literary Career Beginnings

In 1827, Poe released his first book of poetry, Tamerlane and Other Poems. However, it did not receive much attention. In 1835, he became an editor for the Southern Literary Messenger, where he published some of his most famous works, such as 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart.'

Talk about the beginning of Poe's literary career and how he started to gain attention for his writing.

Personal Life

Poe had a tumultuous personal life, which included struggles with alcohol and gambling. He also had a difficult relationship with his foster father, John Allan, and his wife, Virginia, who was also his cousin, passed away from tuberculosis at a young age.

Discuss the personal life of Edgar Allen Poe and how it may have affected his writing.

Death and Legacy

Edgar Allen Poe passed away in 1849 at the age of 40 under mysterious circumstances. However, his legacy lived on, and he is now considered one of the most important writers in American literature, known for his dark and mysterious tales.

Explain the death and legacy of Edgar Allen Poe and how he is remembered today.

Conclusion

Edgar Allen Poe was a complex figure, and his life was full of mysteries and tragedies. However, his writing remains popular to this day and continues to inspire new generations of readers and writers.

Summarize the main points of the lesson and encourage students to explore Poe's works further.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.