Introduction:
Edgar Allan Poe lived a very conflicted life. He was an amazingly descriptive poet, but he was also a troubled soul. He struggled with alcohol addiction and had mental health issues. Poe’s death leaves many questions unanswered. How exactly did he die? Was it, as some believe, the result of a political game. Today, you are going to explore some primary sources in order to explore the strange circumstances surrounding Poe’s untimely death on October 7, 1849.
Step One:
To better understand Edgar Allan Poe, read this primary source about his life. This primary source will assist in understanding the struggles Poe had with relationships throughout his life.
Step Two:
Now that you have a better understanding of Poe’s background, you are going to explore some primary sources from around the time of his death. This primary source consists of letters written by Poe and others around the time of his death. This will give you insight into Poe’s mental state around the time of his death. An example of the letters can be found below.
Step Three-Another Primary Source Document
Finally, you are going to look at this timeline primary source. Study the timeline in order to better understand Poe’s final months. The timeline includes information about Poe and his whereabouts as well as little notes both from and about Poe.
Step Four-Written Response
Prepare your argument for how Poe died. Did he simply pass out in a gutter and die of pneumonia? Was he murdered by a political gang? When you prepare your claim, be sure to support it with evidence from the primary sources.
Step Five-Discussion
The next day, we will have a class discussion in which we discuss your analysis of Edgar Allan Poe's death.