The Faith, Innovation, & Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849
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The Faith, Innovation, & Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849}--Revised Fall 2018 Reading Packet Session 2: Oct 22, 6:30-8 p.m. repeated Oct. 23, 9:30-11 a.m. “Even in the grave, all is not lost.’ --Poe, Pit & the Pendulum [Poe Portrait and Signature. The portrait is based on a daguerreotype taken just before Poe’s death (1849). The signature comes from am 1844 Poe letter now in the Huntington Library (California).] 2ND Session Readings 0. Overview 2nd Poe Session…………………………………………………………………1 1. Poe: England and Middle Years………………………………………………………1-2 2. Poe, first American Literary Critic………………………………………………….2-3 3. Rossetti, Blessed Damozel: Selections & Comment………………………….3-6 4. Poe, The Bells: the Poem, Definitions, Comment……………………………6-8 5. Rachmaninoff, The Bells (Op. 53)……………………………………………….....8-9 6. Readings & Selection on, Poe’s Poem Al Aaraaf …………………………..9-12 7. Poe Poem, Ianthe in Heaven………………………………………………………….12 8. Poe & his angry Biographer Rufus Griswold…………………………………12-13 Reading 0. Session 2 Overview. In this session, we continue our exploration of the “Poe we know” and the Poe we don’t know.” The readings begin with an account of Poe’s life from 1815 (his childhood in England) through 1836 (his departure from West Point). We then turn to Blessed Damozel, a sequel to The Raven written by English poet Daniel Gabriel Rossetti right after he read The Raven. The Rossetti poem focuses on the celestial Lenore’s lament for her grieving mortal lover. We will also explore 3 poems by Poe: The Bells and its impact on Russian composer Rachmaninoff; Al Aaraaf inspired by the Holy Quran and a Supernova; and the love poem To Ianthe in Heaven. We’ll conclude with a discussion of the vicious and influential Poe biography published by Rufus Griswold immediately after Poe’s death. Reading 1. Young Poe in England and his Middle Years (1815-1836) England and Scotland, 1815-20. In an effort to improve his business prospects after the War of 1812, John Allan, Poe’s foster father, moved his family to England. Before taking up residence in London, the family spent several months visiting John’s relatives in Scotland (Irvine and Kilmarnock) and touring Edinburgh. Poe would later recall and use his childhood memories of Scotland and Scottish writers Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. Poe was quite taken with both writers. Below is a little about both poets and their influence. Robert Burns (1759-1796) spent almost 2 years in Irvine (1781-1782), then a thriving seaport. 30 years later when young Poe visited that city, Burns was a legend; his poetry and exploits were still recited. An impressionable 10-year-old Poe would spend the entire summer of 1819 in Irvine, reading the poetry of Burns.] Burns’ influence is evident in Poe’s love poetry. Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). When the Allans arrived in Edinburg Scott was the toast of the town. He had published the first of his Waverly novels in 1814 and would publish 7 more, including Rob Roy (1817) and Ivanhoe (1820) before the Allan family returned to Richmond. It’s generally acknowledged that Poe’s creation of Ligeia is modeled on Scott’s “mild-mannered and dangerous-other” Rowena in Ivanhoe. Schooling in England. From age 6 to age 9, Poe was a boarder at the Misses Dubourg School in Chelsea where he had the “privilege” of sleeping separately from the dormitory. He then spent 2 years as a student at the Reverend John Bransby's school in the small village of Stoke Newington (London) where he was very much an outsider. He did not sleep in the dormitory, and the other boys made fun of his accent even though Poe’s French surpassed those of older students. Return to Richmond. Due to the difficulties John Allan was having with his London contacts, the Allen family returned to Richmond in 1820. Poe began a reading regime that included poets as well as classical figures. At age 15, he wrote Al Aaraaf his first poem. To his foster father’s credit, John tried unsuccessfully to have the poem published. Poe’s First Love and the University of Virginia. In 1825, 16-year-old Poe and 15-year-old Sarah Elmira Royster (known as “Elmira”) became engaged much to the consternation of Elmira’s father, who later burnned all of Poe’s letters to her. (Sarah) Elmira Royster Shelton (1810-1888). When 18-year-old Poe learned of Elmira’s marriage, he was heart-broken. Her marriage was not a happy one. She and her husband had 4 children; only two of whom lived beyond infancy. At his death, she and her children inherited $100 thousand with that the money would go elsewhere if she remarried. After the death of his first wife Virginia, Poe renewed his relationship and then his engagement to the widowed Elmira; however, he fell ill and died before they could marry. We will focus on Elmira’s later life and her continuing love for Poe in our 3rd Poe Session. Poe-Sess. 2, Oct. 22-23, 2018-St. Richard’s Episcopal Church, Winter Park-Designer-facilitator Pamela Menke 1 The University of Virginia began admitting “young gentlemen” in 1825. Having received a considerable fortune willed him by an uncle, John Allan arranged tutoring to prepare Poe to enter the University in 1826. Although Poe did well academically, his foster father became frustrated with what he perceived as Poe’s lack of direction. As a result, he decided not to give Poe sufficient funds to cover all of his costs. Poe had no recourse but to turn to gambling that led to even greater debt. Following examinations in December 1826, an angry Allan withdrew Poe from the University and brought him back to Richmond, leaving his debts in Charlottesville unsettled. Poe explained that had not been happy at the University. His poverty had made him an outcast: “I could associate with no students, except those who were in a similar situation with myself – although from different causes – They from drunkenness and extravagance – I, because it was my crime to have no one on Earth who cared for me, or loved me” (1831 Letter to John). Poe returned only to find that his beloved Elmira had become engaged to an older man. Move to Boston, Enlistment in the Army, and Transfer to West Point. Although he remained in contact with his foster mother until her death, he decided to break off any relationship with John Allan and moved to Boston. Using the name “A Bostonian,” he published Tamerlane and other Poems (1827), a collection of 7 brief, lyrical poems, but the book didn’t sell. Unable to support himself, Poe enlisted in the U.S. Army on 1827 under the name "Edgar A. Perry.” He was stationed at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island, Charleston, S.C., a location he used as the setting for his story “The Gold Bug.” He then served at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA. Despite having been promoted to sergeant major, Poe felt useless. In a December 1828, he wrote a letter to his foster father asking for his help in getting him released from his 5-year Army commitment. He explained his conviction that "the prime of my life would be wasted" in the army. He threatened to take "more decided measures if [his father] refused to assist” [him]. Two months later (February 1829), Francis Allan died; Poe was devastated by her death. Two years after her death, 1829 Publication of Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems. Even with the death of his foster mother and his dissatisfaction with West Point, Poe managed to publish a 2nd poetry collection; this one carried his full name. An earlier collection that used many of the same poems was publishes anonymously, identifying the author only as “A Bostonian.” New to this 2nd collection was Al Aaraaf, a very long poem Poe had written at age 15. The poem is based on stories from the Quran and tells of the afterlife in a place called Al Aaraaf. The poem is uneven and difficult to follow, but it has an intriguing spiritual framework. You’ll find a discussion of Al Aaraaf later in this reading packet. Poe and West Point. John Allen recognized Poe’s strong connection to his wife and reached out to him. Through his contacts, John arranged Poe’s admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Poe attended West Point from 1830 until 1831. He thrived academically, but he felt isolated and useless and struggled with financial problems. He wrote to Allan that West Point “does not suit a poor man.” Poe’s solution was to stop attending classes and to boycott the required chapel attendance. He was court-martialed and expelled in 1831. Irritated beyond measure, John Allan disowned Poe. Almost immediately after Poe left West Point, his brother Henry died of tuberculosis. John Allan disinherits his foster son. The Poe and John Allan relationship became more complicated when John remarried 2years after his first wife’s death. The new Mrs. Allan had no use for Poe. Poe also made injudicious remarks about his foster father’s excessive drinking. When Allan heard, he severed his relationship with Poe. Although Poe made sincere efforts toward reconciliation, Allan would have nothing to do with him. When Allan died in 1834, he left his wealth to his new wife and their 3 sons. Poe was not mentioned in the will. Reading 2. Poe: America’s First Literary Critic Poe is the first major American critics; in fact, his work as a magazine editor and critic brought him to the attention of American readers.