1. It is said that Edgar Allan Poe was both blessed and cursed by his genius. How could…

1. It is said that Edgar Allan Poe was both blessed and cursed by his genius. How could his genius be both a blessing and a curse? 2. Edgar Allan Poe loved and respected women. He spent most of his time in their company, and sought solace and peace in their companionship. How did his experiences with women influence his writing? 3. Edgar Allan Poe’s stepfather disinherited him and cut him out of his life. How did Poe’s bitterness toward his stepfather influence his life? 4. Most of the hardships of Edgar Allan Poe’s life were his of his own making. How was Poe his own worst enemy? 5. How are Poe’s stories rooted in the grim reality of his own life? 6. Poe is considered the “father of the detective story.” Why is this so? 7. Tuberculosis, which we rarely hear of today, killed Poe’s mother, stepmother and wife. Why was this disease so devastating in Poe’s era, and why is the threat today so minimal? 8. Edgar Allan Poe died over a century ago in poverty and despair. Yet, today his stories and poems are more popular than ever. Why do you think his work is so enduring