I need to know all of the awards that Edgar Allen Poe Won Thoughout his entire lifetime. Please send them to me as soon as possible.

Thanks Very Much, Josh

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2003

Answers

There were no poet laureates or great national "awards" at that early period, only magazine contests of which Poe won a couple of monetary porizes fro "The Ms Found in a Bottle", "Colisseum"(second prize), and "The Gold Bug." His greatest acclaim came from "The Raven"- eventually.

I wonder how this question keeps getting asked. The test of a poet is not necessarily in the formal recognitions of his time. People tout these awards judged often by inferiors with an agenda as some sort of justification or credential. As Poe lamented, people usually accepted Shaeksepeare as great on the authority of others alone, often never reading or appreciating him themselves. What, Poe asked himself, real merit can any true poet justly earn?

Better to really really critically read Poe or share in his ongoing power where the "great" poets of his day have languished into popular obscurity or trivial art.

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2003