-When he was young, he won a bet by swimming the James River against the current a few miles (not certain the exact number, sorry). -He enrolled in the army under the name Edgar A. Perry. -He saved a young boy from drowning. (this information is derived from a online biography, The stricken Eagle, I believe) Also, what are some frequent symbols he uses in his literature. I've got some, but I would like to have more if you could help me there. I've been working on some extensive research where I am just doing some finalization)

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2002

Answers

true by Poe's own account. One may wonder if Poe's adventurism had not put the boy at risk in the first place. There was another instance of Poe coming to the rescue of youth in collapse in the city. WhilePoe's sym,bols are not many they are fairly close to their natural uses or common Romantic figures. Care must be taken in decribing how and when Poe uses certain symbols in his own unique and intense way, such as the eyes("holy eyes" "Ligeia") usually I think as representing the lights of the soul and will. As such, when absent, stars may be heavenly symbols of these eyes, superior in every way, except brute power and luminosity, to the moon. Coolness and fragility and nighttime lend a mortal tenderness to these beacons as opposed to feverish heat and cruellight that gives no peace and storms and chaos theat may obscure all light together. "To Helen" is perhaps the earliest best introduction to this use of light as his muse and guide in a metaphor of nautical navigation. It is good to run the gamut of Poe's poems say to "Ulalume" to see how this intimate symbol matures when most of life's course is done and many of his female inspirations are truly gone. Look up shore, silence in several of his poems too.

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2002