For most readers, the name Edgar Allan Poe has become synonymous with horror and fear. Moreover, the images and motifs created by the novelist had an immense influence on subsequent generations and on the works of other authors, to the point that they even immersed themselves in popular culture. Poe's memorable images and quotes have become part of the world's cultural heritage, a source of inspiration for horror film screenwriters and novelists. As a result, many fans of the horror genre don't even value Poe's contribution for its true value, taking his efforts for granted. For nearly two centuries, Poe has provided realistic images of the morbidity, fear, and horror of life to all who are interested in the genre or draw parallels between fiction and certain moments of life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Edgar Allan Poe's biography is full of mystery which can be explained by his own passion for exaggeration and fantasies , which confounded biographers who were trying to learn more about his life from his works or his own words. However, most biographers agree that Poe barely knew his parents and when biographers claim he was a spoiled brat, they are talking about the family that adopted Edgar. Edgar was born into a family of young actors. His father was an alcoholic, whose addiction went so far that he was even drunk on stage. He once left his wife and children and no one ever saw him again. Edgar's mother fell ill and died when Poe was just a child. This is how Edgar was adopted by the Allens, the family of successful businessmen (Meltzer, 2003, p. 24). School teachers said that Edgar was a very talented boy with many talents, including knowledge of French and the ability to translate simple Latin authors (in primary school), but his parents gave him too much money pocket, which made him mischievous and sick. behaved. Despite all the support Edgar received as a child, he found himself alone when he was at college, with Mr. Allen refusing to help him. There are many hypotheses as to what caused him to leave his adopted son without any financial support, but this is an important biographical fact after receiving a substantial school education. Edgar had no opportunity to go to college and it was only by his own choice that he decided to pursue higher education; and the knowledge he acquired was a valuable contribution to his talents which helped him create all the wonderful literary works which became known throughout the world. Poe's realistic use of science fiction allowed him to deceive his readers and keep the audience under pressure with his vivid images and gruesome scenes. The innovative approach to writing fiction made Poe stand out from the crowd of his contemporaries, so the stories created by Poe are similar to those created by modern writers. Another aspect that makes Poe's works particularly modern is his ability to depict narcotic visions and mental illness. Thus, Poe believed that opium could intensify the imagination and improve the perception of reality. Although this was not new and this tradition was preceded by over a century of drug-inspired visionary tales, such as the works of Aldous Huxley for example, Poe went even further than his predecessors in describing the inner world of its characters and creating most readers sympathized with.