Julian Leyva ENGL 1302 04/04/2013 Edgar Allan Poe: Literary Analysis The Cask of Amontillado is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe in the 19th century. ”The Cask of Amontillado” is a classic tale of revenge and murder, somewhat familiar in most of Poe’s works. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Protagonist Montressor has a vendetta against Antagonist Fortunato for apparently the thousands of “Injuries” Fortunato has caused him, leading to Montressor killing Fortunato. Poe 74-79) While reading this short story you began to understand the Gothic style that Edgar Allan Poe developed behind his works and gives you a view on what kind of writer Poe really was. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1809 to Elizabeth and David Poe Jr. His father abandoned the family at a young age for Poe, unfortunately also having his mother die shortly after that. After the passing and leaving of his parents Poe was adopted by a wealthy Scottish merchant Frances and John Allan, which was how he was given his middle name. Minor pg 5-8) Edgar was very spoiled but was still given discipline and strict ruling while growing up as an adoptive son to John Allan. It was then in England where Poe began attending school and was then first exposed to the style of Gothic at the time. He later returned to America to continue his studies. Edgar Allan Poe attended the University of Virginia in 1826, at the age of 17 at the time. Even as wealthy as his stepfather was, they supported him with only a third of tuition leaving Poe to fund the rest.

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As successful as Edgar Allan was in French and Latin, he drank heavily which landed him in debt, thus leading to him dropping out of the University of Virginia in less than a year. With no Job, not very much support and no skills Poe was left to make it on his own. Poe did what many young Americans with no skills or no job would do, He joined the US ARMY in 1827. At the age of 18 he was already able to have his first Volume of poetry published then another at the age of 20. Shortly after his gain in rank in the ARMY as Sergeant Major only after two years, his stepmother died in 1829.

After the death of Mrs. Allan John Allan tried regaining friendliness with Poe and signed an application for Edgar Allan to discharge from the ARMY and attend The U. S. Military Academy at West Point. He entered the Academy in 1830, but yet again having John Allan leaving him with no financial support. Poe then had no other choice but to find himself a way to get expelled from the Academy and find himself a job. He then left West Point and headed to New York. With financial support from some of his friends at West Point, Poe was able to publish his third Volume of poetry. May, pg 8-14) Poe now set himself in pursuing the career of Professional Lettering. He pursued his career with mixed success until following his death only 18 years later. Poe eventually ended up marrying his cousin (Virginia Clemm) who was killed soon after by the same disease that killed his mother; Tuberculosis. Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet, editor, author, literary critic and also short story writer. Poe was one of the first American writers to make a career solemnly off writing, and writing alone.

He chooses a path at the time where American writers were difficult for making a name for themselves but continued to pursue his career. In spite of this, Poe was able to have numerous writing successes, unfortunately died early on in his careers success. The “Cask of Amontillado” is one of the many stories Edgar Allan Poe wrote which included what he is most known for; dark twisted and mysterious plots. Almost all of his works are praised and have a sort of unknown motive to the reader leaving them in suspense and suspicion.

As shown in many of his works, Poe expresses much sadness and depression along with anger, which leaves many people with a question of why he wrote in such attitude and mood? As explained above, Poe lived a life of deep depression and sadness. His mother dying when he was only a kid, and his wife who was only thirteen at the time dying of the same disease. Poe was left with the belief of what more could possibly happen in his life. Along with the deaths in his life, Poe was also a heavy drinker which in the end resulted in his own death.

With the sadness and depression came an icon in the world of literature, Edgar Allan Poe. To many he is seen as one of the fathers of poetry, and a master of the art. Today he is mentioned in almost every literature or English class In North America and will continue to inspire many who read and write about this iconic mastermind; Edgar Allan Poe. Works Cited; Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask Of Amontillado. ” Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2. 74-79. n. p. : Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, 2006. Literary Reference Center. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. Minor, Mark. “Biography Of Edgar Allan Poe. Critical Insights: The Poetry Of Edgar Allan Poe (2010): 8-12. Literary Reference Center. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. May, Charles E. “THE TALES AND THEIR AUTHOR: Biography Of Edgar Allan Poe. ” Critical Insights: The Tales Of Edgar Allan Poe (2010): 8-14. Literary Reference Center. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. May, Charles E. “Edgar Allan Poe. ” Critical Survey Of Mystery & Detective Fiction, Revised Edition (2008): 1-5. Literary Reference Center. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. Merriman, C. D. “Edgar Allan Poe. ” The Literature Network N. p. , 2006. Web. 21 Nov. 2009. <http://www. online-literature. com/poe/>.

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