Talk:Edgar Allan Poe/Archive 2

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Poe and drugs

The intro of the article mentions that it is well-known that he had serious drug-problems. I think that it is actually not that well-known "evidence" for drug-use is aparent, where he mentions his suicide attempt using laudanumand the year spent in treatment for opium.We should also take into account the fact that opium was a common pharmaceutical ingredient at that time for all medication. --Dada 14:30, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Good point. His struggles with alcohol are well documented (though often exaggerated), but you're right that his drug use is not so well documented. Much of the speculation about drug use is based on his several allusions to opium in his stories, and his frequent vists to opium bars, and his admission that he attempted suicide. Perhaps it should be re-written to say, "well known struggles with alcohol and alleged drug problems." That would probably be closer to the truth. Wje 03:42, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

I think it is more accurate now. --Dada 08:41, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

The Epitaph of Edgar Allan Poe As I pondered weak and weary, o'er a certain unsettling theory. Shall I die without to know, the love the world has to show? All the loves that were in my life, have left me now without a wife. As I finish my final bottle wine, I thought of Annibel Lee's eyes that shine. Tis' that death rapping, tapping at my door, only that and nothing more.

Randi Elaine Cutburth Copyright ©2007 Randi Elaine Cutburth

Inventor of Gothic Fiction?

4rth line 1st paragraph Since when did edgar Allan Poe invest gothic fiction, I'm sure 'Castle of Otranto' by Horace Walpole outdates his life by an odd 26 years I guess it's up to differing opinions but can that be cleaned up

I'm pretty sure

I'm pretty sure Edgar had a sister named Lucy Ann Poe.

I know this because I'm directly related to her.

Mitch

According to the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore, he had a sister named Rosalie (middle name Mackenzie). --Dada 13:27, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

      Hmmm... That's strange. I'll go check the dates again. Mitch 21:51, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

He also had a brother. Someone should mention his siblings, and what became of them, in the article. 207.216.170.38 07:23, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

The article is already very long. Perhaps a new article on his siblings would be better. I know his brother wrote some poetry and short stories, some of which are very similar to Poe's ("The happiest day, the Happiest hour" is almost identical between the two, and there's some controversy as to whether the poem is original to Edgar or his brother). His sister also wrote some poetry. But neither of them could hold a candle to Poe talent-wise, of course. They might merit their own article simply for being authors who are siblings of Edgar Allan Poe. Wje 19:57, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

Protection?

Considering what seems to me the staggering amount of vandalism that has ocurred in the last 24 hours, perhaps this article needs protection? --Charles 17:56, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

You can request page protection and unprotection at Wikipedia:Requests for page protection, but in my experience the page hasn't been hit that badly. It's on my watchlist so I regularly catch vandalism to the article and I guess from the history it's on Syrthiss' watchlist too. --Alf ^melmac 18:13, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

It just seems that it has been hit several times in a row in the last day-and-a-half. It is getting old. But, you could be right, this might, comparatively, be nothing. --Charles 04:04, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Well, I'm not sure why this article is still under protection, but whatever. I only discovered that when I tried to correct the following shaky grammar, in the section on the Griswold memoir:

This was due in part because it was the only full biography available and was widely reprinted

Um. "Due . . . because" doesn't work. It has to be either "This was due in part to the fact that it was the only" or simply "This was because it was the only." Personally (speaking as a copyeditor of two decades' experience), I'd go with the latter option. Would someone with The Power care to make the correction?

A very good article, by the way. I came by to pick up some bio details because I've been reading Bayard's The Pale Blue Eye, (2006) in which Poe is one of the two main characters. Excellent book; one which might deserve to be noted in the article, in fact. (I mean, if we're including video games. . . .) --Michael K. Smith 03:16, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

Actor Vincent Price played in many films based on Poe's stories like The Black Cat. Morella, The Facts In The Case Of M. Valdimar, Valdimar should be spelled Valdemer, shouldn't it?: —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.176.199.226 (talk) 23:57, 17 April 2007 (UTC).

Well, that's not the correct spelling either - but it seems to be irrelevant. I don't think Vincent Price was in an adaptation of that film. I'm updating it. -Midnightdreary 02:42, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

Great, He Was in A Video Game...

---

That there are characters named "Poes" in The Legend of Zelda game does not need to be mentioned twice, and really not even once, but I only removed one mention.

  I agree. Poes in the Zelda series hardly have anything to do with E. A. Poe. If there is any connection then a source would be nice. This mention should be deleted.

12.44.31.196 17:32, 2 March 2007 (UTC)

American literature

I think the influence on American literature has been pretty great and the section on this should reflect that. I can't quote specifics (that's why I'm not adding specifics), but I'm sure I've read a large number of articles on American authors that say Poe was a great influence. I've heard that he wasn't highly regarded in his own time and the article mentions this (Mark Twain actually might have taken a swing at him in Huckleberry Finn where he included a scene where Huck reads a horrible poet who writes on dark themes), but he's hugely regarded now. Jztinfinity 16:33, 27 May 2006 (UTC)

West Point Bailout

Poe seems to have deliberately orchestrated his court-martial and dismissal from West Point because it was the quickest way to get out of the place. Many of his fellow cadets bought copies of his latest chapbook to help him financially, which would indicate a certain level of popularity and respect. Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography by Arthur Hobson Quinn. New York, 1941, Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. -- Cranston Lamont 04:14, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Charles Dickens

Poe and Charles Dickens were personally acquainted and on friendly terms; the two met during one of Dickens's U.S. tours. After Poe's death Dickens sent a sum of money to Poe's aunt. Quinn, op. cit. -- Cranston Lamont 04:14, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Actually, Poe and Dickens only started on friendly terms. Poe quickly added him to his list of enemies after Dickens failed to follow through on a promise to secure an overseas publisher of his works. Also, an anonymous review of American poetry printed in England called Poe nothing more than an imitator - many, including Poe, presumed it was written by Dickens. See Kenneth Silverman's biography, Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance, Harper Perennial, pages 198-200. It's like the Poe Bible, so get yourself a copy! Midnightdreary 14:57, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

I would question the line that Poe was influenced by Dickens. Both might have influenced each other in a small way. The only influence that can be seen in their works is in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" - this surely was influenced by Poe's works. Dickens best works were published after Poe died in 1949. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.107.248.195 (talk) 15:35, August 26, 2007 (UTC)

Question away. But take a look at "The Raven" to see where you might be wrong. I think "The Raven" is one of Poe's most significant works and the fact that it was entirely inspired by Dickens lends credence to the idea that Dickens was an influence on Poe (note that it says nothing about Poe influencing Dickens here). By the way, Poe died in 1849, not 1949. :) --Midnightdreary 17:08, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

Dumb Vandals

Why does this page attract so many dumb vandals? Is there someting about Poe which lures them here? Colin4C 20:57, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Of all the writers you read in high school, Poe is probably the "weirdest" and hence most disturbing to the adolescent mind. Nareek 11:42, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

More audio recordings

I added a link to some audio recordings I recently created of some Poe short stories. I think the quality's higher than most of what's available (MP3 resolution as well as interpretation) so I hope nobody minds my promoting them here. The recordings are available for free and there are no advertisements or commercial links or anything like that. aruffo 22:15, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

Poe was expelled from the University of Virginia

As everyone who has ever gone on a tour of the grounds at the University of Virginia knows, Poe was expelled from the University of Virginia for violating the honor code. He did not "drop-out" due to his gambling debts. Poe was caught gambling, which was against the rules for a UVA student, and was facing some form of punishment, although almost certainly something short of expulsion, as gambling was not and is not a violation of UVA's honor code. Unfortunately, Poe lied in his own defense, and was caught in the lie as well. Lying, unlike gambling, is very much an honor violation, hence Poe's expulsion. I will provide supporting information if I can find any, but due to an astonishing wave of revisionism and bad research, nearly no one has the story straight right now.

66.108.185.206 02:38, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

The UVA U-Guides have a "notebook" of materials their new guides study (or at least they used to). Does anyone have access to that information? It isn't currently available on their website.

Cka3n 21:31, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

The guided tour at UVA is not really a great source--if you've got a better source documenting that Poe was in fact expelled, by all means put that in. Nareek 00:19, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

Actually, as far as I know, almost everything the U-Guides say should be based upon the documentation in their notebooks. Relying upon memory of the tour may not be very good, but tracking down that book and seeing what they say and what they cite would be alright, I'd think. Cka3n 09:24, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

I was wrong. The archivest of UVA's Raven society confirmed to me that the expulsion story was false. Sorry for muddying the issue. Sevenwarlocks 20:04, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Vandalism

What's with the vanadlism found in the first paragraph of biography? This article clearly needs to be protected.

School is back in session, I think is the main thing.

I'd be for semi-protection, but then I wouldn't mind it if everyone had to sign in to edit Wikipedia; other people find that more problematic. Nareek 20:28, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Do you think teachers recommend this wikipedia article to their students, who then show their appreciation by vandalising it? We are starting to get the same thing on the Gothic fiction page, which I guess could be a tribute of sorts...Colin4C 11:11, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

High school kids are Internet-savvy enough to figure out how to find WP on their own, and then the idea of leaving their mark on it is irresistable to some--kind of like a dog and a tree. I think it is a tribute of sorts, both to the power to disturb that things like Poe and Gothic fiction still hold, and to the fascinating idea of a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. When I first started working on WP, about half a year ago, the vandalism (particularly of this page--see above) really used to bother me. Now I see it as more of a normal annoyance, kind of like the way you have to sweep up the gum wrappers on the sidewalk if you own a small store. Nareek 11:28, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

My school is full of idiots. I was banned for two months because of them. And could SOMEONE PLEASE GET RID OF THE VERY LAST LINE? Seriously. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 205.235.34.131 (talk) 15:17, 20 March 2007 (UTC).

Tales of Mystery and Imagination?

I have only read a handful of Poe stories, and seen a few films, so I am no expert. Bit confused over Tales of Mystery and Imagination, however, as there is no mention of the title in this article. Was this simply the name later given by a publisher to Poe's collected works? If so, I think an expert needs to weigh in and say something in the article. To me, and I'm sure to many others, Poe's name is synonymous with Tales of Mystery and Imagination, so it seems odd it is not mentioned. When I linked it from another article, the entry under Tales of Mystery and Imagination is about a rock album inspired by Poe. David L Rattigan 08:05, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Ethnicity

Does Poe's Irish ancestry explain his addiction to alcohol?Lestrade 14:41, 12 October 2006 (UTC)Lestrade

It doesn't really matter. And I wouldn't really call it an "addiction" because he could give it up for long periods of time. He just had a weakness for it. Eat-the-kids 02:24, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

Still the irish have aan affinity for ale, and moonshine, and beer, and vodka. Adolph 172

Not to stereotype or anything, right? -Midnightdreary 14:16, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

Edgar Allan Poe Please help me in these questions

Why Wasn't Poe accepted by his foster parents? Like later

Poe's foster parents were from an upper-crust military family who disaproved when Poe grew a moustache and dark wardrobe(serious fashion faux-pas in those days.) Soon after growing facial hair, Poe's clean-shaven foster father disowned him.

Who were the two women most devoted to Poe and what relationship were they to Poe?

The first was Poe's sister, Percilla Poe, the inventer of the poestcard. She lived in England, where she herself had a successful career as a novelist. Her correspondence -- through poestcards, of course, are some of the most important insights we have about Edgar's life.

The second was Poe's wife, who worked at a paper mill. Each eavning, she would bring home paper scraps on which Edgar would compose. These scraps were intended to be used in their fireplace, however, so they had many cold nights without this important fuel.

What happened to Poe's wife? How did this affect Poe?

Poe's wife left him in 1835 for the author Ralph Waldo Emerson.

What were some of Poe's jobs?

Besides being the world's first-ever poet (where do you think we got the name?) Poe was an acomplished singer. You can still get his albums on CD. He also worked in a shoe factory.

What is the connection between Poe and the Baltimore Ravens NFL club?

Poe played for the Baltimore Ravens for four years after college. He was not a very accomplished player, but it is said he named his poem "The Raven" after the football team.

Who is the Poe Toaste?

In the 1970's, novelty toasters in the shapes of cartoon characters and famous people were all the rage. The Poe Toaster featured Poe's likeness, mouth wide open, waiting for the user to insert two slices of bread. The toaster is well-known because of an interview with former president Gerald Ford, in which he said that the Poe Toaster was his favorite kitchen appliance.

I hope this helps. Remember -- it's always easier to just ask people than to waste a lot of time researching this stuff on your own. Who wants to do homework anyway?

I just read this, and I it made me laugh out loud. Nicely done. :) Midnightdreary 17:55, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

Indeed. Funny stuff.

Cultural depictions of Edgar Allan Poe

I've started an approach that may apply to Wikipedia's Core Biography articles: creating a branching list page based on in popular culture information. I started that last year while I raised Joan of Arc to featured article when I created Cultural depictions of Joan of Arc, which has become a featured list. Recently I also created Cultural depictions of Alexander the Great out of material that had been deleted from the biography article. Since cultural references sometimes get deleted without discussion, I'd like to suggest this as a model for the editors here. Regards, Durova 16:14, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

I agree. An alternative approach is the one I have started with entries like Nikola Tesla in popular culture which isn't quite as broad ranging as the cultural depictions (although they could grow and moprh into one) and this entry is ripe for such splitting with a section already devoted to Poe as a character and I notice the entry is already 55kb long and if a split were needed then this would seem the best place to start whichever option you go for, either approach is fine by me. (Emperor 01:55, 7 December 2006 (UTC))

William Wilson - Elah-Gabalus

I was just wondering if anyone knows what "Elah-Gabalus" means. I did a Google search of the term and the only hits that it made had to do with William Wilson.--Rouge Rosado Oui? 04:06, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

It's probably a reference to Elagabalus, a short-lived Roman Emperor. Archiesteel 05:06, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Picture Available

I have personal photo images of Poe's original gravestone (with the Raven atop it) available if you want them. I have no idea how to upload images to wiki so if one of you messages me to say how to do this I'll get it done. The image of his tombstone shown in the article is not the original.Iamlondon 07:21, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

To upload images just click on the "Upload File" link in the left column, and follow the instructions there. I think that if you have photos of the original tombstone (and that they are not the copyrighted work of someone else), you should definitely put them up on the page. Let me know if you still need help to upload the file. Archiesteel 23:32, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

Suicide?

I see that this page has been added to the "Suicide" and "Writers who committed suicide" categories. However, even though he did attempt suicide one year before his death, he was not successful in that attempt. His actual death, though self-destructive, can hardly be described as a suicide. As such, I believe he should be removed from those categories, unless the latter also include suicide attempts (which I believe is not the case). Archiesteel 23:29, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

• I'd agree. He didn't actually commit suicide...so therefore the categories do not belong.Ganfon 22:01, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
• agree. Syrthiss 22:03, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
• agree. Clown in black and yellow 21:11 2 January 2007 (CST)

All right then, unless someone objects, I'll reverse the change tomorrow. Archiesteel 22:00, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

yes, he was murdered. --Nemesis1981 04:09, 17 August 2007 (UTC)

Thank you for your insight. After over a century and a half of thoroughly researched theories, your brief speculation has answered all our questions. Just being a wiseguy, Nemesis1981. Read death of Edgar Allan Poe and see how easy that answer is. --Midnightdreary 04:33, 17 August 2007 (UTC)