Edgar Allan Poe

I've been told that you have been and will be working with some of Edgar Allan Poe's stories, so I thought it would be useful to find out about his life and works.

The following is a listening comprehension activity. Listen to a radio programme about the writer, and complete the following tasks. Please send your answers by e-mail (mmasuyama.nes@gmail.com)

 Edgar Allan Poe by mmasuyama


1) Answer the questions:

a. What was his full name?

b. When and where was he born?

c. What happened to his parents?

d. What was he addicted to?

e. Who did he marry?

2) Complete the paragraph:

Edgar Allan Poe did something unusual for writers of his time: he used a _____________ in a story to describe what was happening. A good example is the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart."
The narrator claims that he is not _____________ , yet reveals that he is a murderer. He has killed an old man for no apparent reason. He cuts up the body and hides the parts under the floorboards of the _____________ 's house.
Police officers arrive after getting reports of noises from the house. The murderer shows them around the house and is proud of the way he has hidden all the _____________ . But he begins to hear a _____________ . The others in the room cannot hear it.

3) Poe was also known for his detective stories. Which famous writer said this about him?

Each may find some little development of his own, but his main art must trace back to those admirable stories of Monsieur Dupin, so wonderful in their masterful force, their reticence, their quick dramatic point.

4) According to Jeff Jerome, Poe's work has had great influence. Name some examples.

5) How did Poe die? Mention three hypotheses.