A WebQuest
Who was Edgar Allan Poe?
Edgar Allen Poe was a talented writer that used his personal struggles and suffering to fuel his writing. It was through this suffering that he was able to create such dark characters, and give the reader a look into his own dementia. To fully understand Poe and where his inspiration comes from, you must first research his life, literary tendencies, and the history of the time in which he lived. Use the links below to find out all of the important information about this man's mysterious life while completing the Quest Questions below.
Edgar Allan Poe’s Life:
Use this interactive website to help you discover information about Poe’s life and literature:
http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/default_flash.asp
Other sites about Poe’s life and literature:
Poe Biography and Works www.online-literature.com/poe/
More Poe www.kirjasto-sci-fi/eapoe.htm
Edgar Allen Poe's life www.theinfidels.org/zunb-edgarallenpoe.htm
Biography www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/index.html
http://www.mysterynet.com/poe/
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/romanticism/
Timeline www.poemuseum.org/poes_life/timeline.html
Alternative site for online biographical information:
Biography.Com
Connecting to Poe’s Life - Research Questions
Directions: As a group, use the following questions to help you complete your quest to unravel the mystery behind Edgar Allan Poe and what inspired his writing. Put your answers on your own piece of paper. You do not have to write out the questions. Divide up the research and coordinate your team’s efforts to find out about Poe's life.
1. When was Edgar Allan Poe born?
2. Where was Edgar Allan Poe born and what was his name at birth?
3. What name was he given at his baptism?
4. Who were Poe’s birth parents and what happened to them?
5. Who were Poe’s adopted parents and what did you learn about them?
6. Where was he educated?
7. Record the names and dates of the places Poe lived during his lifetime.
8. What types of jobs did he have?
9. What kind of writing was his first love?
10. Name the new genre Poe is accredited with creating.
11. What famous work was published in 1841 and what was significant about it?
12. What were some of the titles and dates of Poe’s work?
13. Who were the important women in Poe’s life and when did they die?
14. Who was Poe’s wife and what was unusual about her?
15. What was Poe’s relationship with his father? Give 3 or 4 specific examples to illustrate.
16. Are you surprised that Poe didn't get along with his father? Explain.
17. What were some of the tragic events Poe faced during his life?
18. How do you think these may have influenced Poe’s writing?
19. Poe might have sometimes been described as opinionated, romantic, impractical,
arrogant, ingenious, creative, intelligent and restless. Did you find examples in your
research that would support these descriptions?
20. Do you think many of the themes of Poe's work can be explained by the events in his
life? Explain.
21. Do you think Poe's frequent moves impacted his work? Explain.
22. Poe was recognized as a skilled writer during his lifetime and yet he was often very poor.
Do you think this would happen if Poe had lived today? Explain.
23. Do you think the time period Poe lived during is reflected in his writing? Explain.
24. What were other interesting facts or information did you learn about Poe?