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TED-Ed

Why should you read Edgar Allan Poe? - Scott Peeples

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The prisoner strapped under a descending pendulum blade. A raven who refuses to leave the narrator’s chamber. A beating heart buried under the floorboards. Poe’s macabre and innovative stories of gothic horror have left a timeless mark on literature. But just what is it that makes Edgar Allan Poe one of the greatest American authors? Scott Peeples investigates.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an innovative writer of fiction, poetry, literary theory, and criticism. You can explore all of his writings and read more about his life here.

Additional resources, particularly details about Poe’s time in Richmond, VA, can be found here.

In 2017, PBS’s American Masters series aired the film Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive, which provides a clear overview of his life and career.

One of the most carefully-researched and thorough biographies is Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance by Kenneth Silverman.

Edgar Allan Poe Revisited by the educator provides a concise, chronological overview of Poe’s fiction, poetry, and criticism.

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Meet The Creators

Educator
Scott Peeples
Director
Asparuh Petrov
Narrator
Adrian Dannatt
Designer
Asparuh Petrov
Illustrator
Asparuh Petrov
Animator
Asparuh Petrov
Producer
Vessela Dantcheva
Composer
Alexander Daniel, Ivailo Stefanov, Alexander Evtimov
Sound Designer
Alexander Daniel, Ivailo Stefanov, Alexander Evtimov
Content Producer
Gerta Xhelo
Editorial Producer
Alex Rosenthal
Associate Producer
Bethany Cutmore-Scott, Elizabeth Cox
Script Editor
Alex Gendler
Fact-Checker
Francisco Diez

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