Summary:
Brief biographies of two great American poets: Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Frost. Both men had to overcome great difficulties in their lives to succeed.
People strive to be as good at poetry as were Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Frost. They were not only amazing poets but they were unique individuals with amazing skill. Their greatness is shown through their family backgrounds, their education, their first breaks and their overall accomplishments through writing and through life.
To begin with, Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts, to father David Poe Jr. and mother Elizabeth Hopkins Poe. His father died in 1810 and his mother died in 1811. He was then adopted illegally by a merchant by the name of John Allan. For part of his life he was brought up in England from 1815 to 1820. In 1833 he lived with his father's sister. He married his thirteen year old cousin Virginia Clemm. In 1942 she burst a blood vessel and five years later she died of tuberculosis. After her death he started doing drugs and drinking alcohol. He also suffered from madness and depression and in 1948 he attempted suicide. in 1949 he disappeared and finally he turned up in a delirious state in a Baltimore gutter. He died on October 7, 1849. During his entire life he suffered a great deal.
Similarly, Robert Frost started his life out badly. He was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco California. When he was two years old he and his mother fled to Massachusetts because his father was a drunkard. When his sister Jeannie was born, they returned to San Francisco. His father died two years later. Despite this rough start Robert had a fairly decent life. He married Elinor White and they had two kids. On January 29, 1963, Robert died of a heart attack at the age of 88.
Secondly, Edgar Allan Poe did not have the greatest education, nor was it the longest education. While he was living in England Edgar attended Manor School at Stoke Newington. He later went on to attend the University of Virginia in 1826. He was expelled for not paying off his gambling debts. Instead of trying to attend another school he joined the U.S. Army in 1827. Three years later in 1830 he was dishonourably discharged for intentionally neglecting his duties.
Unlike Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Frost had a fairly good education. Robert was the valedictorian at Lawrence High School in Massachusetts along with his future wife Elinor White. After High School he attended Dartmouth College. From 1897 to 1899 he attended Harvard as a special student but left without a degree.
Thirdly, Edgar Allan Poe had many breaks in life despite his struggle with various addictions. His first break came when he sold his short story, 'MS Found in a Bottle' for 50 dollars. At this time he was living with his father's sister.
Similarly, Robert Frost had many breaks. His first big break was when he published his first book of poetry. This made him popular in both Europe and North America.
Finally, Edgar Allan Poe had quite a few achievements in life. He worked for various literary magazines from 1835 to 1843. During that time period he wrote some of his best known stories. His poem 'The Raven' which was published in 1845 brought him national fame. One of his most famous poems 'Annabel Lee' which was published in 1849 was written for his departed wife.
Like Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Frost had quite a few remarkable accomplishments in his life. In his lifetime he won four Pulitzer Prizes. He even read his poem 'The Gift Outright' at JFK's Innaugaration ceremony. Also he had countless poems published and each of them are a work of art.
In conclusion, despite Edgar Allan Poe's problems with drug addiction, alcoholism and gambling debts and despite Robert Frost's rough start both of these men have made lasting contributions to the art of writing. Both of them were not only amazing poets but they were unique individuals with remarkable skill. Their contributions to writing will be remembered forever.
