Man whowaspoe[1]

The Man Who Was Poe by Avi - MonkeyNotes by PinkMonkey.com

PinkMonkey Literature Notes on . . .

The Man Who Was Poe
by

Avi

1989

MonkeyNotes by Laurie Lahey

Reprinted with permission from TheBestNotes.com Copyright © 2005, All Rights Reserved.
Distribution without the written consent of PinkMonkey.com or TheBestNotes.com is strictly prohibited.

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WARNING: The following information will give away information about the plot if you have not yet finished
reading the book.

KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS
SETTING
Providence, RI in 1848.

CHARACTER LIST
Major Characters
Edmund Brimmer - Edmund Brimmer is an eleven-year-old boy who has been living with his aunt and twin
sister in Providence, RI. Edmund’s mother left their home in England the previous year to divorce her husband
in America and retrieve the money that he stole from her. Edmund recently came to American with his aunt
and sister after his aunt received an urgent message from his mother. In American, both his aunt and sister
disappear and Edmund decides to trust a stranger, August Dupin, to help find them.

August Dupin/ Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe comes to Providence shortly after Sis goes missing. He is
battling an identity crisis and believes he is no longer the famous writer, Edgar Allan Poe. Instead, he tells
Edmund he is August Dupin, the hero of some of his detective stories. Dupin agrees to help Edmund solve the
mystery of his disappearing family because he believes it will provide material on which he can base a new
story.

Minor Characters
Sis - Sis is Edmund’s twin sister who is kidnapped in the beginning of the novel. The plot revolves around
Edmund’s search for Sis, whom he always believes is alive. In the plot’s conclusion, Edmund saves Sis from
Mr. Rachett and Mr. Peterson much to Poe’s dismay. Poe believes Sis should die, just as his own Sis has died.

Aunty Pru - Aunty Pru takes care of Edmund and Sis when their mother, Aunty Pru’s twin sister, goes to
America. When Aunty Pru receives a desperate message from her sister, she takes the children to Providence.
Aunty Pru searches for the children’s mother and sacrifices herself by leading her sister’s captors to believe she
is her sister. Mr. Peterson murders Aunty Pru instead of the children’s mother.

Captain Elias - Captain Elias is a dockworker who is called captain, although he is not really a captain. He
befriends Edmund and Sis during their many outings at the docks. Captain Elias confirms the existence of The
Lady Liberty, thus clearing Dupin’s suspicion that Mr. Fortnoy murdered Aunty Pru.

Mr. Throck - Mr. Throck is a night watchman who was working with Aunty Pru to find her sister. In the plot’s
conclusion, he helps Edmund find Sis.

Mr. Fortnoy - Mr. Fortnoy finds Aunty Pru’s dead body. He is friends with Mr. Throck. For a short time,
Dupin believes he killed Aunty Pru and Edmund’s mother.

Mrs. Helen Whitman - Mrs. Helen Whitman is a poet as well as Poe’s love interest. Her mother, Mrs. Powers,
wants her to marry Mr. Arnold. Mrs. Hunt is concerned about Poe’s drinking. Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Powers
were real people. In real life, Poe and Mrs. Hunt were engaged. However, she broke the engagement because
he started drinking again.

Mr. Rachett/ Mr. Arnold - Mr. Rachett marries Edmund’s mother, then steals her money and abandons her.
Mr. Rachett comes to America and changes his name to Mr. Arnold because Arnold is a prominent family in the
Providence area. Mr. Rachett and his associate Mr. Peterson believe they have killed Mrs. Rachett; however,
they really kill her sister, Aunty Pru. The men kidnap Sis and use her to steal gold from the bank.
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Mrs. Powers - Mrs. Powers is Mrs. Hunt’s mother. She wants her to marry Mr. Arnold and conspires with him
to keep Poe away from Mrs. Hunt.

Catherine - Catherine is the servant at Mrs. Hunt’s house, although her loyalty rests with Mrs. Powers.
Catherine does not like Edmund.

Mr. Peterson - Mr. Peterson works at the bank, although he also works with Mr. Rachett in carrying out his
evil scheme. Peterson murders Aunty Pru.

Mrs. Rachett - Mrs. Rachett is the mother of Edmund and Sis. She comes to Providence to find her new
husband, Mr. Rachett, who has stolen her money and abandoned her. In Providence, she is taken captive by Mr.
Rachett. Mr. Rachett’s associate, Mr. Peterson, thinks he murders her. However, Mr. Peterson has really killed
her twin sister. Mrs. Rachett hides in a church until she is discovered by her son, Edmund.

CONFLICT
The conflict of a plot is the major problem experienced by the protagonist. In this plot Edmund, the protagonist,
must find out what happened to his family. While this is the major conflict, other conflicts can also exist for
other characters. For example, Dupin battles the inner-conflict of resolving his identity.

Protagonist - The protagonist of a story is the main character who traditionally undergoes some sort of change.
He or she must usually overcome some opposing force. In this novel Edmund fights to find out what has
happened to his family. Along the way, Edmund transforms from a meek, ordinary boy into a decisive hero.

Antagonist - The antagonist of a story is the character that provides an obstacle for the protagonist. Plots may
have multiple antagonists that work together to oppose the main character. In this novel, Mr. Rachett and Mr.
Peterson join forces to steal and kill the members of Edmund’s family.

Climax - The climax of a plot is the major turning point that allows the protagonist to resolve the conflict. The
climax of The Man Who Was Poe occurs when Edmund confronts Mr. Peterson at the docks. Edmund has
solved the last riddle of the mystery and gone to save Sis all alone. In this moment, Edmund has successfully
solved the mystery and morphed into a hero.

Outcome - The outcome, resolution, or denouement occurs in the final chapter when Edmund reunites with Sis.
Edmund has successfully retrieved his mother and his sister.

SHORT PLOT/CHAPTER SUMMARY (Synopsis)
Because this novel is a mystery, much of the plot is revealed in an incoherent fashion and may be confusing.
This synopsis will recount the major plot-events chronologically.

Edmund Brimmer’s mother marries a man named Mr. Rachett, whom Edmund and his twin sister, Sis, never
meet. Soon after the wedding Mr. Rachett steals Mrs. Rachett’s money and leaves London for Providence, RI.
When Mrs. Rachett learns where Mr. Rachett has gone, she leaves Edmund and Sis with her twin sister, Aunty
Pru, and comes to Providence to divorce Mr. Rachett and reclaim her money.

In Providence, Mrs. Rachett is taken captive by Mr. Rachett. Mrs. Rachett is able to get an urgent message to a
sailor, who delivers it to Aunty Pru. Aunty Pru, Edmund and Sis come to Providence to find Mrs. Rachett, who
has been gone for a year.

Aunty Pru hires Mr. Throck to help her find Mrs. Rachett. When Aunty Pru comes to town, Mr. Rachett places
an ad in the paper under his new name, Mr. Arnold, to see if she knows about his alias. While checking the
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paper to see his ad, he comes across an ad Mr. Peterson has placed. Mr. Peterson, who works at the bank and
knows where Aunty Pru lives and about the reward she has there for the safe return of her sister, hatches a
scheme with Mr. Rachett to kill Mrs. Rachett and rob the bank.

One day Aunty Pru leaves Edmund and Sis in their small, cold room and says she is meeting a man who will
help find their mother. Aunty Pru does find her sister and when they learn that Mr. Peterson intends to murder
her (because Mr. Rachett wants to marry another woman) Aunty Pru switches places with her. Aunty Pru is
murdered instead. Mrs. Rachett escapes but does not know how to find Edmund or Sis.

When Aunty Pru does not return for two days, the children grow hungry. Edmund goes to get food, locking Sis
in the room. On the way back to the room, Edmund is detained by a man, whom he thinks is old and helpless.
The man asks Edmund to walk him to the other side of town. However, this man is really Mr. Peterson who is
purposely detaining Edmund so Mr. Rachett can kidnap Sis. Mr. Peterson and Mr. Rachett have rented a room
in another building that directly faces Edmund’s room. They have been waiting for one of the children to leave
so they could take the remaining child. They need a small child to lower into the vault at the bank through an
air shaft.

When Edmund returns to his room, he is distraught to find Sis missing. He is wandering the streets looking for
Sis when he meets a man who calls himself August Dupin. August Dupin is really the writer, Edgar Allan Poe.
Dupin agrees to help find Sis if Edmund will deliver a letter to Mrs. Whitman, his love interest. On their way
back to Edmund’s room, Mr. Dupin (Poe) and Edmund stop at the docks. At the docks Mr. Throck and Mr.
Fortnoy show them Aunty Pru’s dead body.

The next day the bank is robbed; Mr. Peterson and Mr. Rachett successfully lowered Sis into the vault and stole
the gold. Dupin sends Edmund to see about getting a coat made. At the clothier Edmund runs into Mr. Rachett.
Mr. Rachett recognizes Edmund, although Edmund does not know who Mr. Rachett is. Mr. Rachett panics,
thinking about how much his wife resembled her sister. He wonders if he killed the right woman. Mr. Rachett
goes to Edmund’s room and finds a portrait of Aunty Pru and Mrs. Rachett, which he steals.

A secret note is exchanged between Mr. Rachett and Mr. Peterson, which Mr. Rachett accidentally leaves at the
home of Mrs. Whitman, whom he also wishes to marry. Edmund, who is delivering another letter to Mrs.
Whitman from Mr. Dupin (Poe), finds the encoded note and takes it so the servant does not think he left it.

During a gathering at Mrs. Whitman’s house, Mr. Dupin (Poe) mentions the incident at the clothier, in which
Mr. Rachett got spooked by Edmund and left. However, Mr. Dupin (Poe) does not realize that Mr. Rachett,
who is also at the gathering under the alias Mr. Arnold, is the man about whom he is speaking. Mr. Rachett
abruptly leaves the house. When Mr. Dupin (Poe) sits for a daguerreotype, he sees a picture of Edmund’s
mother and learns that she and Aunty Pru were twins. Mr. Dupin (Poe) solves the mystery. He even decodes
the secret message, which was based on a code he wrote in a short story. At this point, Mr. Dupin (Poe) will not
help Edmund. He is only interested in writing his story based on the events.

Edmund finds his mother in the church, where Mr. Dupin (Poe) said she would be. Edmund asks Mr. Throck to
make Mr. Dupin (Poe) figure out where Sis is. Mr. Throck comes back to Edmund’s room and, much to
Edmund’s dismay, befriends Mr. Dupin (Poe). Early the next morning, Edmund figures out that the “Sunrise”
mentioned in the secret note is a boat. Edmund rushes to the docks where he confronts Mr. Peterson. Mr.
Rachett hits Edmund over the head from behind, knocking him out. Mr. Dupin (Poe) and Mr. Peterson come to
Edmund’s aid. They chase The Sunrise from another boat. Sis jumps overboard; when Edmund goes to save
her Mr. Dupin (Poe) tries to prevent him. Edmund frees himself from Mr. Dupin (Poe) and jumps in the water
to rescue Sis.

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When Mr. Dupin (Poe) leaves he gives Edmund what remains of his manuscript (Edmund tore much of it to
pieces). It is clear that Mr. Dupin (Poe) wished Sis dead because he believed that is how the story was
supposed to end.

THEMES - see additional discussion in Overall Analyses section.
Major Theme
The malleable boundary between what is real and what is imagined - This novel illustrates how reality and
fiction can be interrelated. Characters use fiction in their real lives and a writer bases his fiction on reality. The
novel itself combines the real biography of a real writer and incorporates it into a fictitious tale.

Minor Themes
Twins - Avi picks up on this theme from Poe’s own writing. One of Poe’s most famous twin stories is “The
Fall of the House of Usher.” For Poe twins were often two sides of the same person. In fact, in this novel Avi
has the Poe character say that there are two sides to every truth. In this novel, Aunty Pru and Mrs. Rachett seem
to be virtually exchangeable. They are both mother figures for the children. When Poe recounts seeing the
woman in the mausoleum ask where her children are, he thinks she could have been either Aunty Pru or Mrs.
Rachett. Moreover, one is killed in place of the other.

Edmund and Sis are more closely related to Poe’s Roderick and Madeline of “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
They are the male/female counterparts of one person. Like Poe’s twins, the female counterpart is thought to be
dead (or is at least absent) and the male counterpart cannot rightly exist alone. Unlike Poe’s twins, these two do
not die, which greatly frustrates Mr. Dupin (Poe).

Death - Death, as the characters gathered at Mrs. Whitman’s house suggest, is an omnipresent theme is the Poe
canon. Poe’s own life was fraught with deaths (his mother, his father, his wife) and he had a terrible fear of
being buried alive. In The Man Who Was Poe there is a struggle between Edmund and Mr. Dupin (Poe) over
death. Mr. Dupin (Poe) believes all stories end in death; thus, Sis must die. Edmund believes Sis is alive and
can be rescued. In the dramatic conclusion to the novel, Mr. Dupin (Poe) and Edmund physically fight over the
life/death of Sis. Edmund wins and rescues her but Mr. Dupin (Poe) is devastated, believing his story is ruined.

Identity - As the title of the novel suggest, much of the plot revolves around Poe’s inner struggle with his
identity. For Poe it seems that much of his identity is tied to his writing. When he cannot write, he calls
himself Dupin. When he begins recording his story, he reclaims the name Poe. Poe’s struggle with his identity
is connected to his struggle with reality. He has difficulty deciding what is real versus what is imagined. For
example, he believes he is surrounded by ghosts or demonic spirits. He also believes that Edmund is another
version of himself and that he is responsible for creating the same outcome in Edmund’s life as occurred in his.

MOOD
Suspenseful. Avi creates a feeling of suspense in this novel in three ways; he creates characters whose motives
are questionable; he deliberately withholds information to surprise the reader; he places an ordinary boy in
extraordinary circumstances. Additionally, Avi leaves room for the possibility that the characters are haunted by
ghosts and sinking into madness.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION - BIOGRAPHY
Avi Wortis was born December 23, 1937 in Manhattan, NY. He grew up in the New York City area, living in
Brooklyn. He never uses his real name and has been called Avi since he was so named by his twin sister,
Emily, when they were babies. He also has an older brother. His father, Joseph, was a psychiatrist; his mother,
Helen, was a social worker. Avi has said that his family is very intellectual and that he was read to every night.
His family took weekly trips to the library, and Avi loved reading even at an early age.

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Even though Avi loved to read, school was difficult for him. While both his older brother and his sister were
excellent students (his brother even attended college at age fifteen), Avi struggled, especially with writing. His
writing difficulties are now explained by dysgraphia, a condition that causes people to misspell or reverse
words. At the time that Avi was in school, however, learning disorders were often misdiagnosed as laziness or
bad behavior. After failing science at a public school, Avi transferred to a private school and met an English
teacher who gave him the personal help he needed. At 17, Avi decided to become a writer.

Avi earned two degrees at the University of Wisconsin before returning to become a librarian in New York
City. As a librarian for twenty-five years in both New York and at a college in New Jersey, Avi still found time
to write and to raise a family.

Avi wrote his first children’s book after the birth of his first son. He now exclusively writes books for a young
adult audience. His books have been both historical and contemporary, with both male and female protagonists.
His biggest goal is for the reader to enjoy the story.

Avi’s three sons are now adults, and he is able to write full time. He also spends a great deal of time traveling to
school across the United States and talking to students about reading, writing, and living with learning
disorders. A number of his novels have won awards, and his most famous works include Charlotte Doyle,
Nothing But the Truth, and The Man Who Was Poe. In 2003 he was awarded a Newbery Medal for Crispin:
The Cross of Lead.

His works include:
Things That Sometimes Happen (1970)
Snail Tale: The Adventures of a Rather Small Snail (1972)
No More Magic (1975)
Emily Upham's Revenge: A Massachusetts Adventure (1978)
The History of Helpless Harry: To Which Is Added a Variety of Amusing And Entertaining Adventures (1980)
Shadrach's Crossing (1983)
Bright Shadow (1983)
Devil's Race (1984)
Wolf Rider: A Tale of Terror (1986)
The Fighting Ground (1987)
Something Upstairs (1988)
Wolf Rider : A Tale of Horror (1988)
The Man Who Was Poe (1989)
Who Stole the Wizard of Oz? (1990)
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (1990)
Windcatcher (1991)
Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel (1991)
Blue Heron (1992)
Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway? (1992)
Wolf Rider (1993)
City of Light, City of Dark: A Comic-book Novel (1993)
The Bird, the Frog, And the Light: A Fable (1994)
Smuggler's Island (1994)
The Barn (1994)
Sometimes I Think I Hear My Name (1995)
Tom, Babette And Simon: Three Tales of Transformation (1995)
A Place Called Ugly (1996)
Finding Providence: The Story of Roger Williams (1997)
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What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?: And Other Stories (1997)
Night Journeys, Homework Set (1997)
Perloo the Bold (1998)
Man from the Sky (1999)
Romeo and Juliet - Together (And Alive!) at Last (1999)
Punch With Judy (1999)
Amanda Joins the Circus (1999)
Keep Your Eye on Amanda! (1999)
Abigail Takes the Wheel (1999)
Midnight Magic (1999)
Captain Grey (2000)
Night Journeys (2000)
S O R Losers (2000)
Encounter at Easton (2000)
The Christmas Rat (2000)
Don't You Know There's a War On (2001)
Prairie School (2001)
The Grow Home (2001)
The Secret School (2001)
The Good Dog (2001)
Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2002)
Things That Sometimes Happen: Very Short Stories for Little Listeners (2002)
Silent Movie (2003)
The Mayor of Central Park: A Told Tale of Many Tails (2003)
Never Mind!: A Twin Novel (2004) (with Rachel Vail)
The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant) (2004)
The Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic (2005)

LITERARY/HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Much of this novel is based on the biography of the real Edgar Allan Poe. Poe was an American writer who
lived from 1809-1849. He is best known for creating the detective story and giving credence to the short story,
for which he created the notion of preconceived totality of effect.

The character August Dupin is based on the main character in Poe stories such as “The Murder in the Rue
Morgue,” “The Purloined Letter,” and “The Murder of Mary Roget.” “The Murder in the Rue Morgue” is
considered the first detective story. Readers familiar with Poe’s writing will also notice themes present in The
Man Who Was Poe which are central to Poe’s own writing, such as death, twins, the supernatural, and
premature burial.

Representations of Poe’s real life in this novel include Poe’s characterization and many events that took place in
his life in 1848. The real Edgar Allan Poe was in Providence, RI in 1848; he was really in love with a woman
named Mrs. Helen Whitman; he really had a daguerreotype of himself made; he was known to be a heavy
drinker. Mrs. Whitman was truly concerned with Poe’s drinking. They became engaged and she later broke the
engagement because of his drinking.

GENRE
Fiction, Mystery

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CHAPTER SUMMARIES AND NOTES
Prologue
Summary
Edmund and his sister, whom he calls Sis, are alone in a cold room in Providence, Rhode Island. They are thin
and pale and do not have enough clothes to keep them warm. The only heat in the room comes from a candle.
Aunty Pru left two days ago and the children are hungry. Sis urges Edmund to get them some food with the
little money they have. Edmund is reluctant to leave Sis, but agrees that they need food. Edmund locks the
door when he leaves so that it is impossible for Sis to leave or anyone else to enter. Edmund buys a loaf of
bread. On his way home, an old man asks Edmund to help him get to another part of town. Because Aunty Pru
has taught Edmund to be kind to the elderly, Edmund assists the man. When Edmund returns to his room, Sis is
gone.

Notes
In a novel, the prologue is a section that offers introductory information before the exposition. Unlike the
exposition--which offers background information on the main characters and critical aspects of the plot-- this
prologue works to grab the reader’s attention.

Part I
CHAPTER 1
Summary
Edmund runs into a man who calls himself August Dupin. Dupin tells Edmund that he will help him find his
family members if Edmund delivers a letter to Mrs. Helen Whitman. Dupin is very specific with his directions
of how the letter should be delivered. Dupin asks Edmund if he can stay with him and Edmund agrees.
Edmund is a bit hesitant about trusting this stranger because Dupin is so intense. However, Edmund realizes
that he has no one else to help him.

Soon after Dupin and Edmund depart from Mrs. Whitman’s house a servant girl steps out into the cold. She
takes a note to the Hotel American House, which reads “Edgar Allan Poe has com.”

Notes
This chapter begins the novel’s exposition. The exposition is the section of a novel in which the main characters
and main conflict are introduced. Any relevant background information is also given in this section. Because
this story is a mystery, suspense is an essential element. To maintain suspense, Avi will keep some information
from the reader. In not revealing all the information about the characters and plot, Avi forces the reader to help
solve the crime, which heightens suspense.

Typically, in mystery novels the protagonist encounters unexplainable events and other characters whose
motives are questionable. The protagonist is the main character who works to overcome some obstacle; in this
novel the protagonist is Edmund. Edmund confronts the inexplicable disappearance of his mother, aunt, and
sister. Dupin seems to want to help Edmund, but he is a suspicious character. Dupin’s motives are unclear and
he will frequently waver between kind stranger and belligerent drunkard. Moreover, the reader is informed that
Dupin may not be who he seems when the servant delivers the note. Depending on the reader’s familiarity with
the Poe canon of literature, it may or may not be obvious that Dupin is really Poe. August Dupin is the main
character in Poe stories such as “The Murder in the Rue Morgue,” “The Purloined Letter,” and “The Murder of
Mary Roget.” “The Murder in the Rue Morgue” is considered the first detective story.

Readers familiar with Poe’s writing will also notice themes present in The Man Who Was Poe which are central
to Poe’s own writing, such as death, twins, the supernatural, and premature burial. Other readers who are
familiar with Poe biography will notice the representation of some of his real-life events in this novel. The real
Edgar Allan Poe was in Providence, RI in 1848; he was really in love with a woman named Mrs. Helen
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Whitman; he really had a daguerreotype of himself made; he was known to be a heavy drinker. Mrs. Whitman
was truly concerned with Poe’s drinking, as she broke off their engagement because of his drinking.

CHAPTER 2
Summary
On the way to his room, Edmund tells Dupin that he and his sister spend a lot time down by the docks collecting
the names of the ships. When Dupin asks if Edmund has talked to Captain Elias (who works at the docks) about
his sister, Edmund tells Dupin that he is not supposed to discuss family business. Dupin insists they go to the
docks. When they arrive, Dupin meets two men, Mr. Fortnoy and Mr. Throck, who are looking at a dead body.
The dead body is a woman who resembles Edmund. Mr. Fortnoy pulled her out of the water and Mr. Throck is
the night watchman. Throck tells Dupin there will be an inquest in the morning; if no one claims the woman,
she will be buried in the pauper’s field. Edmund tells Dupin that the dead woman is his aunt but insists the
dress she is wearing is not hers. Dupin and Edmund head back to Edmund’s room.

Notes
In this section Dupin displays his kind, gentle side. He is reluctant to show Edmund his dead aunt and seems
genuinely interested in helping Edmund solve the mystery of his family’s disappearance. In this section we also
learn of three new characters: Captain Elias, Mr. Fortnoy and Mr. Throck. A cast of characters is a necessary
element of a mystery plot because it provides possible perpetrators. Because there are many possible suspects,
the reader must actively engage the text-- thus heightening suspense.

CHAPTER 3
Summary
Edmund takes Dupin back to the room and asks if he must be the one to tell Sis about his aunt’s death. Dupin
becomes agitated and tells Edmund that Sis was the name of his late wife. When they arrive at the room, Sis
has not returned as Edmund had hoped. Dupin gives Edmund money to buy a meat pie and some candles.
When Edmund leaves, Dupin jots some notes in his notebook about the evening’s events. It is apparent that
Dupin is turning Edmund’s misfortunes into a story. Dupin thinks of how death must be the ending, how death
is the only ending ever possible.

As Edmund walks to the saloon, he feels like someone is following him. The person disappears. Edmund spots
Mr. Throck at the saloon. When Edmund leaves the saloon Mr. Fortnoy tells Throck that Edmund and Dupin
went back to the room and then Edmund came to the saloon. It becomes clear that Edmund was followed by
Fortnoy. When Throck and Fortnoy leave the saloon the counter man shows another man a bill, which promises
a reward for the return of Mrs. Rachett. Throck has been investigating the case.

When Edmund returns to the room, Dupin is asleep at the table. Dupin has been drinking. Edmund breaks the
meat pie in half as he thinks about Dupin’s mood swings. Feeling guilty, Edmund takes the bigger half of the
pie for himself. While Edmund wonders if he should trust Dupin, he thinks how he did not tell Dupin about his
stepfather. Dupin wakes after Edmund has gone to sleep. Dupin stares at the cracks in the ceiling, where he
believes he sees pictures and words. A piece of paper is slipped under the door.

Notes
In this chapter, Avi incorporates more Poe biography into Dupin. Dupin is depicted as being obsessed with
death. The real Edgar Allan Poe was surrounded by death. Both of Poe’s parents died when he was a young
child. Poe’s wife, whom he called Sis, died of tuberculosis in 1847—the year before this novel takes place.
The real Edgar Allan Poe also had a problem with alcohol, which is portrayed in this chapter. The reader
should be aware, however, that this novel is entirely a work of fiction. While there is evidence that Poe was in
Providence in 1848 and that he had a relationship with Helen Whitman, Avi creates the rest of the details.

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Avi also seems to be commenting on the writing process. Avi shows how Poe, whom he sketches as a desperate
writer in need of material, converts real-life misery into fiction. This is not a far-fetched idea, however.
Scholars know of examples of how Poe did convert his suffering into literature. An example is his famous
poem “Annabel Lee,” which he wrote with his dead wife in mind. This chapter also portrays Poe as mad. Poe
claimed to suffer bouts of depression and madness and in 1848 he attempted suicide.

CHAPTER 4
Summary
Dupin wakes up the next morning with a headache and tries to remember the previous night. He reaches for his
half of the meat pie and reads the paper in which it was wrapped. The paper contains a series of notices that do
not interest Dupin. Dupin decides he will leave Edmund and find something else to write about. When he looks
at the ground he notices the paper that was pushed under the door the night before. The paper reads “Meddle At
Your Peril!” Dupin considers staying because there might be more to the story but then decides to leave. As he
is sneaking out, Edmund wakes and asks if his sister has returned. Dupin feels embarrassed at being caught
leaving. When Edmund asks if Dupin will help him, Dupin decides he will think about the story more. Dupin
tells Edmund that he has an appointment that afternoon but he will help until then. Dupin tells Edmund that he
has the knowledge to solve the crime and Dupin can only help him sort it out. Dupin asks a series of questions,
which Edmund answers reluctantly.

From the questions the reader learns that Edmund, Aunty and Sis came to Providence from London a month
ago. They came because Aunty Pru received a message from a sailor from Edmund’s mother, who left London
a year before. Edmund says his aunt was searching for his mother and when she left a few days ago she said
she was meeting a man who might be able to help. Dupin asks again if Edmund is certain he locked the door
when he left Sis; Edmund is certain and tells Dupin there are only two keys. Dupin tests the locked door and is
convinced that it could not be forced open. Dupin notices that there is another building right next to the one
they are in, with a window to a room facing the window in Edmund’s room. Dupin and Edmund go to the other
building and find the room that looks into Edmund’s room. Dupin breaks the door open.

Notes
This chapter establishes the mysterious circumstances under which the women in Edmund’s family have
disappeared. These unexplainable events, in conjunction with pieces of information Dupin and Edmund
withhold from one another, heighten the suspense of the story.

Another common element of mystery novels is the ordinary character that is placed in extraordinary
circumstances. Edmund is a normal boy who loses his entire family mysteriously. Now, Dupin tells him that
he has the power to solve the mystery. Edmund suddenly becomes much more important than the average boy.

Finally, this chapter shows a cold side of Dupin. It seems that Dupin is too self-absorbed to be truly interested
in Edmund’s problem. Dupin is concerned with three things: drinking, writing, and Mrs. Helen Whitman. In
this chapter Dupin morphs from a drunken stranger who may be of some help to Edmund, into a drunken writer
who is interested only in creating a story. Because Dupin believes death is the only conclusion to a story,
perhaps Dupin is a threat to Edmund and his family.

CHAPTER 5
Summary
The room is empty. Edmund finds a pearl from Sis’s shoe. He tells Dupin that Sis would have left the pearl
because she loved the story “Hansel and Gretel,” in which the children leave breadcrumbs so they can find their
way home. Dupin speaks with the landlord who tells him that the man who rented the room owes her rent. She
says the man called himself Mr. Smith and was very particular about which room he wanted. He never lived in
the room but he and another man visited it frequently. Edmund and Dupin go to a café. Dupin tells Edmund
10

that he believes Edmund and Sis were being watched. He asks Edmund again about being detained on the street
the night of Sis’s disappearance. Dupin tells Edmund that he believes two men worked at luring his aunt away
and kidnapping Sis.

Dupin believes the men watched Edmund and Sis and waited until one left. One man took Sis, while the other
detained Edmund. Dupin learns from the waiter that Throck, who is also at the café, is investigating a bank
robbery that took place the night before. Dupin scribbles the details in his notebook and tells Edmund to find a
clothier and see about having a coat made. Dupin tells Edmund not to return for at least half an hour. As
Edmund leaves, Throck comes over to Dupin.

Notes
This chapter provides a turning point in the plot. A turning point is a moment in the plot when a significant
change occurs, or the reader learns significant information. In this case, Dupin and Edmund have uncovered
important information that may help them find Sis. It also seems that Dupin believes the robbery may be linked
to the kidnapping. This turning point has reinvested Dupin in the mystery.

CHAPTER 6
Summary
Throck asks Dupin if he wanted to speak with him. Dupin makes a series of very astute observations about
Throck, which disconcert Throck. Throck unsettles Dupin by mentioning Edmund’s mother and stating that
perhaps not everyone has a mother. Throck tells Dupin when and were the inquest is. When Throck leaves,
Dupin thinks about how Edmund’s life is so similar to his own. Dupin believes that Edmund’s story must end
with the death of Sis, as his did.

At the clothier a portly, rich man is being fitted for a coat. When Edmund enters, the man becomes panicked.
The shopkeeper, who can see his customer is upset by the sight of Edmund, tells Edmund to leave immediately.
The shopkeeper does not believe Edmund, who is dressed virtually in rags, can afford a coat. Edmund leaves,
feeling humiliated. Edmund is surprised when he sees the portly man leave the store in a hurry, looking down
the street both ways.

When Edmund returns to the café, Dupin seems to have no recollection of having sent him to the clothier.
Instead, Dupin orders Edmund to deliver another letter to Mrs. Whitman. Dupin insists that Edmund gives the
letter directly to Mrs. Whitman. Dupin tells Edmund he will wait at the café until he returns. When Edmund
leaves, Dupin asks the waiter for directions to the courthouse.

Notes
This chapter shows how Avi sticks closely to the historical Edgar Allan Poe, even if this is not a truly historical
novel. Dupin becomes upset when Throck mentions that not everyone has a mother because Poe’s mother died
when he was a small child. In this chapter we also glimpse Poe’s madness. Dupin does not recall sending
Edmund to the clothier. Moreover, he has a perverted sense of reality. Dupin seems to believe that Edmund’s
story is parallel to his own life. Dupin is convinced that Edmund’s tale must end with the death of Sis, since his
own Sis died. Dupin is slowly becoming Edmund’s most dangerous foe because he has gained access to
Edmund’s trust and wants Sis to die.

CHAPTER 7
Summary
Edmund races to Mrs. Whitman’s house. The servant, Catherine, lets him see Mrs. Whitman. Mrs. Whitman
does not recognize the name “Mr. Dupin” at first. She asks where Dupin is and if he is drinking. Catherine

11

tells Mrs. Whitman that her mother wishes to speak with her. Mrs. Whitman tells Catherine to take Edmund to
the kitchen and ask the cook to give him some bread and butter.

At the inquest, Dupin listens to Fortnoy testify that the found the body after being relieved from watch aboard
The Lady Liberty. Dupin grows tired and stops listening to testimony. Instead, he watches the spectators. Dupin
sees a woman that looks exactly like the dead woman.

Notes
It is difficult to decipher Dupin’s experience at the courthouse because he has proven to be an unreliable
character. In chapter six, Dupin appears to be mad as well as drunk. In the courtroom he is falling asleep when
he claims to see a woman that looks like Edmund’s aunt. The reader must wonder if this person is a ghost, a
figment of Dupin’s imagination, or Aunty Pru.

CHAPTER 8
Summary
Edmund goes to find Mrs. Whitman and overhears a conversation between Mrs. Powers and Mr. Arnold about
Mr. Poe. Of course, Edmund has no idea who any of these people are and is not very concerned with their
conversation. Edmund finds a scrap of paper on the floor with strange writing on it. Edmund puts the paper in
his pocket so Catherine does not think he left it.

Dupin leaves the courtroom, shaken. He believes he conjured the image of the dead woman. He resolves never
to drink again because he must keep a clear head if he wants to marry Mrs. Whitman. He decides to return to
the café where Edmund is supposed to meet him. On the way, Dupin sees the bank that Throck mentioned. He
pretends to be with an insurance company to gain access.

Mrs. Whitman presses Edmund about Dupin’s drinking. Finally, she gives Edmund a message to relay to
Dupin. She wants to meet him in the cemetery at 3:30.

At the bank, Dupin meets Mr. Peterson and Mr. Poley. Peterson shows Dupin the vault in which the stolen gold
was kept. Dupin is very nervous in the vault, which he perceives as tomb-like. Dupin finds a piece of string in
the vault and Peterson shows him a button that he found in the vault. Peterson tells Dupin that the man who
built the vault put an airshaft in it because he was afraid of being locked in.

Notes
In this chapter the plot makes two important twists: a secretive conversation occurs at Mrs. Whitman’s house
and the bank becomes central to the mystery. Because the reader has most likely guessed that Dupin is Edgar
Allan Poe at this point, Edmund’s observation of the conversation between Mr. Arnold and Mrs. Powers is an
example of dramatic irony.

Dramatic irony is when the reader knows something that a character does not know. Thus, Edmund reacts to
the conversation in a manner opposite of how he should. Edmund thinks this conversation is inconsequential
and does not pay close attention to it. However, the conversation is an essential clue, necessary to solve the
mystery of his sister’s disappearance.

Avi illustrates another aspect of the real Poe when Dupin enters the vault. Edgar Allan Poe had a fear of being
buried alive, which he expressed in much of his writing. An example of a story in which Poe explores the terror
of being buried alive is “The Cask of Amontillado.”

12

CHAPTER 9
Summary
Edmund is puzzled by Mrs. Whitman’s questions as he heads back to the café. Edmund does not find Dupin at
the café, but the waiter tells him that Dupin left his notebook. Edmund is horrified by Dupin’s notebook, in
which he has written out the details of Edmund’s ordeal. It is obvious that Dupin is creating a story, a story in
which death is a central theme.

Peterson shows Dupin out of the bank and confides that he really wants to be an investigator. Peterson
mentions that he reads Edgar Allan Poe and finds his writing instructive. When Peterson asks Dupin’s name,
Dupin tells Peterson that his name is Edward Grey.

Edmund decides Dupin must have meant to meet him at the room. Edgar finds the room in shambles; someone
has ransacked it. The only missing item is a portrait of his mother and aunt.

On his way to the café, Dupin remembers that he wanted to buy a coat for Edmund. The clothier tries to sell
Dupin the coat for which he was fitting the portly man earlier that day. The clothier tells Dupin the story of how
a beggar boy came in, causing the man to leave abruptly. Dupin guesses the beggar boy must have been
Edmund. Dupin learns the name of the man who left is Mr. Rachett.

Edmund, who has been running between his room and the café, finally spots Dupin. Dupin tells Edmund that
he needs a drink and that he has learned news of Sis.

Notes
The rising action begins to accelerate in this chapter. The rising action details the battle between the protagonist
and antagonist until the climax is reached. In this case, Edmund rapidly learns information about Sis and the
antagonists, Mr. Rachett/ Mr. Arnold and Mr. Peterson, grow anxious that they are being found out and react.

The name Dupin gives Peterson is significant. Dupin says his name is Edward Grey. Edward is similar to
Edgar and Edmund, which means that Dupin is retaining a sense of his identity although he is not quite sure
who he is. Grey is significant because it is a color that falls between black and white, thus implying a haziness
about his identity. The title of the novel, The Man Who Was Poe, refers to Edgar Allan Poe’s identity crisis. He
has lost the ability to write and is plagued with melancholia and alcoholism. When he regains the ability to tell
a story, Dupin insists upon being called Poe. However, this section highlights the battle that Poe is waging
within.

CHAPTER 10
Summary
Sitting at a table in the café, Edmund asks Dupin what he has learned about Sis. Dupin says he has learned why
Sis was stolen but he is not prepared to tell Edmund anything else. Edmund is extremely frustrated. The
conversation turns to Mrs. Whitman. Edmund asks Dupin where he is from and why he is in Providence since
Mrs. Whitman seemed so surprised. Dupin will not answer the questions. Edmund tells Dupin that he left his
notebook behind. Dupin tells Edmund that he creates the future. Edmund tells Dupin that someone ransacked
his room. Dupin and Edmund rush back to the room. Upon inspection, they decide the perpetrators must have
had a key to Aunty Pru’s trunk because it was not forced open.

Dupin seems to tire of this latest development and asks Edmund to get him some water to shave, since he must
go to Mrs. Whitman’s house. Edmund tells Dupin that he has been keeping something from him; Edmund had
a stepfather who stole his mother’s money and abandoned her. Edmund’s mother followed the man, Mr.
Rachett, to Providence to obtain a divorce and get her money back. Dupin realizes it was Mr. Rachett who saw
Edmund that morning at the clothier; that is why he left so suddenly. Although Edmund never met Mr. Rachett,
13

Dupin is convinced Mr. Rachett recognized Edmund. Dupin tells Edmund to talk to Captain Elias and learn
everything he can about The Lady Liberty. Dupin wants to see if Fortnoy lied under oath because Dupin
believes Fortnoy murdered Edmund’s aunt.

Notes
At the conclusion of Part I some of the mystery is clarified; we learn why Edmund’s mother came to America in
the first place. While Dupin is angry that Edmund had not told him about his stepfather before, he is oddly
pleased that Edmund also has a wicked stepfather. This detail seems to confirm Dupin’s belief that an odd
parallel exists between his life and Edmund’s life. While Edgar Allan Poe never officially had a stepfather, he
did have an alternate father-figure with whom he frequently quarreled. Poe was raised by John Allan, although
he was never officially adopted. Allan eventually disowned Poe following a falling out.

Part II
CHAPTER 11
Summary
Edmund decides to test Dupin. Edmund will follow Dupin
and see if he is really going to meet Mrs. Whitman. If Dupin really meets Mrs. Whitman, then Edmund will
trust him. If Dupin does not meet Mrs. Whitman, Edmund can no longer believe anything Dupin says. While
Edmund follows Dupin, he thinks someone else is following Dupin as well. Edmund wonders if it is a ghost,
but remembers Aunty Pru saying that ghosts do not exist. Edmund decides he must have imagined that
someone was following Dupin. Edmund is disappointed when Dupin enters a church; he is sure Dupin has
failed his test.

Inside the church, Dupin feels like people are all around him even though he is alone. He walks up to the bell
tower and notices that the rope is the same substance as the string he found at the bank. Dupin runs outside and
races down the alley to the bank. He realizes that a child could have been lowered down the vault’s airshaft
with a rope.

Dupin finally goes to the cemetery to meet Mrs. Whitman and Edmund is relieved. Edmund decides to find out
what he can about The Lady Liberty. However, on his way to the docks, Edmund notices Catherine racing out
of Mrs. Whitman’s house. He follows her as she makes her way to the Hotel American House.

In the cemetery Dupin wonders if he should propose to Mrs. Whitman. He decides it is the best decision
because in marrying her he will gain money and stability. Dupin sees a woman emerge from a mausoleum. As
he comes closer to the woman he realizes she has the face of the dead Aunty Pru. The woman asks him what
has happened to her children. Dupin insists that he does not have her children. The woman screams and runs
away. Startled, Dupin falls over a gravestone and is caught by Throck.

Notes
Because Dupin has proven himself an unreliable character, it is difficult for the reader to discern what is really
happening with him when he is alone in the church and the graveyard. It seems a bit absurd to believe that
ghosts are huddled all around him in the church. It is also hard to believe that the dead Aunty Pru emerged
from a mausoleum. However, it is fantastic scenes such as these that elevate the feeling of mystery and
suspense in this type of novel. Maybe these things really did happen to Dupin.

Edmund has yet to complete his transformation from timid boy to decisive hero in this section; however, he is
making improvements. Edmund’s decision to test Dupin is clever and, obviously, Dupin has not caught on that
Edmund is following him. Yet, Edmund has not learned to trust his own judgment. He believes correctly that
Dupin is being followed but he dismisses him concern with thoughts of what Aunty Pru would say.

14

CHAPTER 12
Summary
Edmund sees Catherine emerge from The Hotel American House with the same man Edmund saw at the
clothier, Mr. Rachett. Edmund watches them enter Mrs. Whitman’s house.

Dupin asks Throck if he saw the ghost. Throck thinks Dupin is crazy. Dupin goes into the mausoleum and
finds a straw mattress. Dupin asks Throck what he is doing in the cemetery. Throck tells him that he noticed
Dupin following him, so he decided to follow Dupin. Throck wants to know why Dupin went to the scene of
the robbery. Throck also wants to know why Dupin is always with Edmund and why he is in an abandoned
graveyard. When Mrs. Whitman arrives, Throck leaves, but warns Dupin that he is watching him. Dupin tries
to express the emotion he feels for Mrs. Whitman, but she insists they enter the house. She tells him that she
did not receive his first letter because her mother intercepted it.

Notes
In this chapter two important suspicions are confirmed. The first is that there is a definite connection between
the mystery with Edmund’s family and Mrs. Whitman’s house. The second suspicion confirmed is that Mr.
Dupin is without a doubt Edgar Allan Poe. Dupin’s identity is probably obvious at this point, but Mrs.
Whitman is the first to call him Mr. Poe. Moreover, when Rachett enters Mrs. Whitman’s house, the
conversation that Edmund overheard between Mrs. Powers and Mr. Arnold/ Mr. Rachett about Mr. Poe makes
more sense.

CHAPTER 13
Summary
Dupin is anxious as he enters Mrs. Whitman’s house. Dupin believes he is among demons. Dupin is introduced
to the guests as the acclaimed American writer, Edgar Allan Poe. Mr. Arnold asks Dupin why his writing is so
focused on evil. Dupin answers that evil is the name we give our secret fears. The guests press that they share
none of the fears illustrated in his writing and ask for an example from ordinary life. Dupin begins to tell the
story about the man who ran out of the clothier earlier that day. Suddenly, Mr. Arnold excuses himself,
claiming he has urgent business.

Once Arnold leaves, Dupin begins to relax. The guests talk about his writing and say that while they believe
“The Raven” is the best poem written in America, Poe’s other works make them feel uncomfortable. A guest
claims that Poe does not have the sordid face he would expect from the sordid writing Poe produces. The
conversation turns to the reading of faces. Mrs. Whitman mentions that a daguerreotype studio has opened in
town. Dupin leaves to have a portrait made so Mrs. Whitman can study his face privately and decide what she
reads from it.

Notes
In this section Avi makes two playful references to Poe’s writing and one to his real life. When Poe enters the
room, he feels like he is descending into a masque of black death. This description is no doubt a reference to
Poe’s short story, “The Masque of the Red Death.” The second reference comes when the guests openly talk of
August Dupin. If the reader was not already familiar with August Dupin, the detective of a few of Poe’s stories,
he or she now learns why Poe has chosen to call himself Dupin.

The reference to Poe’s real life is the mention of the daguerreotype studio. In 1848, in Providence, Poe indeed
sat for a daguerreotype. The characters’ discussion of face reading refers to a 19th century pseudo-science
known as Physiognomy. Even more popular in 19th century America was a branch of Physiognomy called
Phrenology. Phrenologists believed that character traits could be derived by examining a person’s head.

15

CHAPTER 14
Summary
Edmund speaks with Captain Elias at the docks. Edmund does not tell Captain Elias that Sis is missing, but he
does ask about The Lady Liberty. Captain Elias confirms that The Lady Liberty is a real ship, out of Halifax.
Captain Elias also confirms that Mr. Fortnoy’s story about standing watch for three days and then finding the
dead woman is true.

Edmund leaves Captain Elias but is not ready to return to his room, so he walks along the docks. Edmund feels
like he is being watched. Edmund decides to trick whoever is following him by hiding under the docks.
Edmund is able to see the person but all he can make out is that the man has white hair. Edmund wonders if the
man is Mr. Fortnoy.

Notes
In this chapter Edmund makes important progress. Edmund finally trusts his instincts and decides to find out
who is following him. This type of confidence will be necessary for Edmund to overcome his conflict.

CHAPTER 15
Summary
Edmund goes to the cemetery in hope of finding Dupin. Instead, he finds a man kneeling on the ground. The
man leaves when Edmund tells him that he is waiting from someone inside Mrs. Whitman’s house. Because the
man leaves in such a hurry, he does not notice that he drops his prayer book. Dupin emerges from the house.
When he sees Edmund he tells him to go into the mausoleum. Edmund finds nothing, not even the mattress
Dupin saw. Dupin tells Edmund that the story is over; he believes he has gone mad.

Edmund follows Dupin to the daguerreotype studio. While his portrait is being made, Dupin notices a strange
portrait on the wall. Dupin demands to know when the portrait was made. The proprietor tells him it was
months ago. Dupin asks Edmund who the woman in the portrait is; Edmund tells Dupin that it is his mother.
Dupin is startled because the woman looks exactly like Edmund’s aunt. Edmund tells Dupin that the women
were twin sisters. Dupin insists that they must leave immediately. He tells the man in the studio that he will be
back later for the portrait. When the man asks his name, Dupin tells him it is Edgar Allan Poe. Dupin takes
Edmund back to the cemetery and demands that they look for clues. Edmund is confused, but soon, Dupin is
pleased to have found straw. Then, Dupin finds a white button.

Notes
In this section Avi draws on a theme prevalent in Poe’s writing: twins. Poe was fascinated by twins and his
most famous short story that explores this theme is “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

Dupin has reached a turning point when he tells the man in the studio that his name is Edgar Allan Poe. As the
title of the novel suggests, Dupin has been struggling with his identity. He considers himself the man that used
to be Poe, but no longer is. Once he realizes that he is not mad, after all, he seems to reassert his identity and
find a new enthusiasm for solving the mystery (and ending his story). The clues in the cemetery prove that he is
not mad and that someone is trying to cover up the crime.

CHAPTER 16
Summary
Edmund tries to get information from Dupin but is frustrated because he tells him little. Edmund and Dupin go
to a saloon. Edmund asks Dupin why he calls himself Dupin, if his name is really Poe. Dupin says he is no
longer Poe and insists that Edmund call him Dupin. Dupin and Edmund share information that they have
learned alone. When Edmund mentions that he was followed by a man with white hair, Dupin says they must
return to Edmund’s room. Edmund and Dupin race back to the room; outside, there is a thunderstorm.
16

In the alleyway, Edmund sees a man with a pistol pointed at Dupin. Edmund and Dupin struggle with the man,
who runs off. Lightening illuminates the man’s face; Edmund recognizes him as Mr. Rachett. Back at the room
Dupin reads the newspaper that the meat pie had been wrapped in. Dupin reads the various bills placed in the
paper. Meanwhile, Edmund shows him the scrap of paper he found at Mrs. Whitman’s house. Dupin identifies
the code as one he wrote himself in his short story, “The Gold Bug.” The secret message relays a meeting time
and place.

Notes
This chapter highlights Dupin’s instability. In the last chapter he reaffirmed his identity as Poe. However, in
this chapter he is once again consumed by depression and insists he is no longer Poe.

While Dupin continues to frustrate Edmund, it seems that he is a shrewd sleuth. He claims to have solved the
mystery.

CHAPTER 17
Summary
Dupin tells Edmund not to interrupt him as he explains what he thinks has happened. Dupin believes Rachett
took the name Arnold because it is a respectable name in the city. He used Edmund’s mother’s money to win
the favor of Mrs. Powers. When Edmund’s mother learned Rachett was in Providence she came to settle their
business. Because of the urgent nature of the message Aunty Pru received from Edmund’s mother, Dupin
believes she was being held captive by Rachett. Aunty Pru comes to Providence and offers a reward for the
return of her sister. Throck sees the bill and offers his services in finding Edmund’s mother. Throck threatened
Dupin with the “Meddle At Your Peril” message because he believed Dupin was after the reward.

Rachett places an advertisement in the paper when he learns Aunty Pru is in town. He wants to see if she
knows his assumed name. When Rachett checks the paper to make sure his advertisement is there, he sees
Peterson’s advertisement. Rachett approaches Peterson, who has overheard Aunty Pru’s business at the bank
where he works. Rachett needs money and to rid himself of his wife in order to marry Mrs. Whitman. Aunty
Pru finds her sister and switches places with her so she can be with her children. Peterson kills Aunty Pru,
thinking she is Edmund’s mother. Peterson and Rachett stake out Edmund’s room, waiting to snatch one of the
children to carry out their scheme at the bank. Although Edmund thought he was detained by an old man on the
street, it was really Peterson—whose hair is so blonde that it appears white.

The men lower Sis down the airshaft of the vault with a rope. Sis is a smart girl, however, and leaves a button
everywhere she has been. The men’s plan does not go off as they hoped. When Rachett sees Edmund he is
struck by his likeness to Sis. Rachett thinks how alike Aunty Pru and Edmund’s mother are. Rachett wonders
if they killed the right woman. Rachett goes to Edmund’s room and finds the picture of the sisters in the trunk.
The woman Dupin saw in the cemetery was not a ghost but either Edmund’s mother or aunt. Now, Dupin
believes, Rachett is panicked and looking to escape.

When Dupin is through with his rant, Edmund addresses him as Mr. Dupin. Dupin insists that his not his name
and demands to be called Mr. Poe. Edmund asks if they are going to go to the church where Dupin believes his
mother might be. Dupin says he is through helping Edmund because he has a story; as far as Dupin
is concerned, they are all dead. Dupin begins to write. Edmund leaves.

Notes
In this chapter, there are three significant plot developments. The first development is the unraveling of the
mystery. It seems that Dupin has solved the mystery, except for the details of the final message that he
decoded. The second development is that Dupin, in having finally obtained a story, can once again become
Edgar Allan Poe. It seems, for the moment at least, that he has resolved his inner crisis. The final development
17

is Edmund’s decision to go out alone. It seems that he has decided to find his mother, even though he knows
the peril he could face.

Dupin has proven that he is a truly selfish person. He was concerned only with finding a story. It seems that he
is unable to discern clearly the difference between reality and fiction. For him, reality is only a device to feed
his writing.

CHAPTER 18
Summary
Edmund races to the church, where he finds his mother. Edmund’s mother is shocked that he is alive. She
recounts the details of what has happened, which are just as Dupin guessed. Edmund’s mother does not know if
Sis is alive. Edmund vows to find Sis if she is alive.

Notes
When Edmund finds his mother it seems that perhaps, Dupin is not as mad as he seems. Dupin has shrewdly
solved the mystery and identified where Edmund’s mother was located. We even learn that Dupin did not see a
ghost at the inquest, as he thought—Edmund’s mother was there. Edmund must now find Sis and it appears
that he is on his own; his mother is weak and Dupin is absorbed in his fiction.

Part III
CHAPTER 19
Summary
Poe is writing when Edmund returns with his mother. Poe believes Edmund and his mother are his characters
coming to life. Edmund begs Poe for money to buy his mother some food. Poe grudgingly gives Edmund a
few coins. At the saloon Edmund sees Throck and asks if he was helping Aunty Pru find his mother. Throck
says he was; Edmund tells him that he found his mother. Edmund asks Throck if he will help find his sister
because Dupin is no longer helping him. Throck agrees to help Edmund if Edmund will help him get the
reward. Edmund says he will do whatever Throck says. Edmund wants Throck to make Dupin tell him where
Sis is, because Edmund believes he has figured it out.

Edmund brings Throck back to the room where Poe is still writing. Poe tells them Sis is in his story and the
story is what is really important. Edmund, who has snatched Poe’s notebook, tells Poe he will destroy the
manuscript if he does not help find Sis. Throck takes Poe’s bottle and does not give it back until Poe shows him
the note Edmund found at Mrs. Whitman’s house. The men observe that sunrise is later than 6 a.m. Then Poe
shares his drink with Throck. For the rest of the evening the men exclude Edmund and drink together.

Notes
This chapter illustrates a child’s worst fear: all the adults he knows are incapable or cannot be trusted. In this
chapter it is apparent that Edmund must take matters into is own hands. He has run out of options for help. He
must find Sis alone.

CHAPTER 20
Summary
Edmund wakes up at 4 in the morning. He tries to wake Poe, but Poe will not budge. Edmund thinks of where
Sis could possibly be as he considers the note. Suddenly it occurs to Edmund. He runs to Poe and shakes him,
telling him that he remembers seeing a ship called Sunrise at the docks. Poe is half-asleep and confused; he
tells Edmund that Sis is dead. As Poe repeats this, Edmund becomes enraged. He takes Throck’s pistol and
tears Poe’s manuscript to pieces. Edmund runs to the docks, where he meets Peterson who is on the Sunrise.
Edmund points the pistol at Peterson and demands that he turn Sis over. Peterson says it’s not crime for a father

18

to take his daughter; if it were up to him he would have killed Sis like he killed Aunty Pru. Edmund decides Sis
must be below deck. Edmund yells her name and then he is struck from behind.

Notes
This chapter provides the plot’s climax, or major turning point that allows the protagonist to overcome the
conflict. Edmund takes matters into his own hands and confronts Peterson, alone. Although he is struck from
behind, it is this action that will lead him to successfully finding Sis and resolving the plot.

CHAPTER 21
Summary
Edmund is brought to consciousness by Poe and Throck who have arrived at the docks. The see the Sunrise
sailing away and realize they must act quickly. They board another boat, Peggy. Edmund thanks Poe for
coming to help him. Poe asks Edmund if he thought he could change the end of his story by destroying his
manuscript. Edmund insists that in real life Sis is alive. Poe does not seem to understand what Edmund is
saying, and insists that his story will not change. They chase the Sunrise in the pouring rain. Terrified of Poe,
Edmund asks Throck not to listen to what Poe tells him to do.

Throck reminds Edmund that they have a deal. As the boats face-off, Peterson fires the pistol he took from
Edmund at Peggy. Suddenly Sis jumps off the Sunrise. As she lands in the water, Edmund goes to save her but
is stopped by Poe who insists he must let her go. Edmund breaks free from Poe’s grip and rescues Sis with
Throck’s help. The Sunrise disappears. Poe weeps.

Notes
This chapter provides the novel’s dramatic outcome. Edmund successfully overcomes his conflict and rescues
Sis. Poe is once again not what he appears. In the beginning of the chapter it seems that maybe Poe has come
to help rescue Sis. However, it becomes clear that Poe comes to see that his story is not changed. Yet again,
Poe demonstrates his inability to differentiate between reality and fiction.

CHAPTER 22
Summary
After taking Sis back to his mother, Edmund says goodbye to Poe. Poe tells Edmund that while Edmund
believed he wanted Sis to die, he really only wanted his story to live. Poe says Sis would have lived longer in
his story. Poe gives Edmund the remains of his manuscript, which he says is destroyed. The prologue of the
story is the same as this novel. Poe has changed the name Edgar to Edmund.

Notes
This concluding chapter demonstrates an important concept to this plot: there are two sides to every truth.
Poe’s wanting Sis to die in reality and live in his story are presented as opposing ideas; yet, they have the same
outcome. Essentially, they are two different ways of looking at the same thing. This statement supports the
idea that fiction is frequently an interpretation of reality. Fact and fiction are not black and white concepts, but
blurry ideas that are sometimes difficult to decipher.

OVERALL ANALYSES
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Edmund Brimmer - Edmund Brimmer is the main character and protagonist of this novel. As the main
character, Edmund must work to overcome the major conflict of the plot. The major conflict of The Man Who
Was Poe is finding out what happened to Mrs. Rachett, Sis and Aunty Pru.

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Edmund’s character heightens the mystery and suspense of this novel. He is an ordinary boy placed in
extraordinary circumstances. Unexplainable things happen to Edmund and he meets characters whom he is not
sure he can trust. Edmund fights a personal battle in learning to trust his own judgment.

At the novel’s conclusion Edmund has transformed from an ordinary, meek boy into a decisive hero. Edmund
finds his mother and saves Sis.

August Dupin / Edgar Allan Poe - Typically, the other main character in a novel is the antagonist. However,
in The Man Who Was Poe, the antagonists are not well-developed, and thus provide little material for deeper
inspection. In this novel the other major character is August Dupin or Edgar Allan Poe. Interestingly, this
character wavers between acting as a furthering force (something that helps the protagonist achieve his or her
goal) and a deterring force (something that deters the protagonist from achieving his or her goal).

Dupin, as he is called for most of the novel, struggles with his own identity crisis. He is self-absorbed and
seems motivated to help Edmund only in the interest of writing his own story.

When Dupin does have the chance to truly help Edmund save Sis, he stops him. This action shows that Dupin
has difficulty discerning between reality and fiction. For Dupin, fiction is superior to reality. He wants Sis to
die so that he can make her live eternally in his literature.

PLOT STRUCTURE ANALYSIS
This novel is a work of fiction that uses the real-life events and character attributes of writer, Edgar Allan Poe.

Exposition - The exposition of a plot is the place where the reader is introduced to the main characters and any
important information to understand what is currently happening. The exposition of this novel occurs in the
first chapter when we learn information about Edmund and the nature of his conflict. Because this is a mystery
novel, the exposition cannot give too much information away.

Rising Action - Rising action is the action that will lead to the climax (or the major turning point in the plot).
In this novel the rising action is everything that happens before Edmund confronts Mr. Peterson on the docks.

Climax - The climax is the point in the plot where something happens to change the course of action of the
main character. It is a decisive moment that will determine the outcome of the plot. Here, the climax occurs
when Edmund confronts Mr. Peterson at the docks.

The reason this is the climax of the plot is because it will lead to the plot’s resolution, in which Sis is saved and
the family is reunited. At this point in the plot, Edmund has overcome his inability to trust his judgment and
taken matters into his own hands. If he had continued to rely on Dupin, Sis would never have been saved;
Edmund’s conflict would never have been resolved.

Outcome - The outcome of the plot is when resolution occurs. The outcome of this novel is the successful
rescue of Sis, which leads to the family’s reunion.

THEMES / THEME ANALYSIS
The malleable boundary between what is real and what is imagined - This novel illustrates how reality and
fiction can be interrelated. Characters use fiction in their real lives and a writer bases his fiction on reality. Sis
helps Edmund and Dupin solve the crime by leaving buttons everywhere she has been taken. Sis learned this
technique in the fictitious story “Hansel and Gretel” and applied it to real life. Rachett and Peterson use a code
they learned from a short story to transmit a real-life message.

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Conversely, Dupin takes what he observes in real life and spins it into a story.

The novel itself combines the biography of a real writer and incorporates it into a fictitious tale. The Man Who
Was Poe combines real characters and events with imagined characters and events into a seamless story.

Throughout the novel, Dupin struggles between deciding what is real and what is imagined. He believes he sees
ghosts, which turn out to be a real woman. He believes he is in the company of demons, which turn out to be
imagined. At one point, Dupin believes that he has created Edmund and his mother in a story and that they
have come to life. In reality, it is the tragic events that happened to Edmund and his mother that have created
Dupin’s story.

Finally, on another level, this story engages the post-modern idea that perhaps there is no truth because we
cannot access it. Dupin tells us that there are two sides to every truth. However, the post-modern thinkers
would say there are infinite sides to every truth because we each create our own reality based on our own
perceptions. Thus, for Dupin his madness is his reality. For Dupin his fiction is what is “real.”

POINT OF VIEW
Third person, omniscient, past tense. The story is told by a narrator who has access to the thoughts of the
characters.

IMPORTANT QUOTATIONS / QUOTES
Edition: Avon Flare, 1991. Originally Published: 1989
1. “But Aunty Pru says you should always help the old ones.” – Edmund, p. 22.

Edmund says this when explaining why he did not come directly home the night Sis was taken. When the old
man asked Edmund to help him, Edmund did so against his instincts. Instead of trusting himself, Edmund
thought of what Aunty Pru would say. The old man was actually keeping Edmund from going home so Sis
could be taken. In this novel, Edmund must overcome his self-doubt and learn to trust his judgment.

2. “I told you, I notice details…” – Dupin, p. 56.

Dupin says this to Throck after he provides astute observations he has made of Throck. This quotation is
important because it shows how observant Poe is, and how being observant makes him an excellent writer. In
picking up on themes in Poe’s writing and integrating them into the story, Avi suggests that Poe took real-life
experience and translated it into literature. Dupin’s accurate estimation of Throck implies that perhaps Poe’s
writing is so effectively terrifying because it accurately portrays reality.

3.”I am a creator of the future” – Dupin, p. 95.

Dupin says this to Edmund during one of his mad rants about his story. This statement illustrates Dupin’s self-
absorbed, egotistical nature. During this conversation, Edmund is desperately trying to get Dupin to share
information about Sis. Dupin, however, is only concerned about his fictitious creations.

4. “Evil is only the name we give…our secret fears.” – Dupin, p. 122.

Dupin says this at Mrs. Whitman’s gathering when he is pressed to explain why he is so preoccupied with evil
in his writing. As Avi illustrates, Dupin translates his real-life fears into his fiction. This statement supports the
novel’s major theme, which suggests that there is a malleable boundary between fiction and reality.

5. “She’s home.”- Edmund, p. 128.
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This is Edmund’s response when Captain Elias asks where Sis is. This quotation is significant because is
illustrates Edmund’s struggle with information. He must constantly worry what information to reveal and what
information to trust. He overcomes this battle at the climax, where he learns to rely on his own instincts.

6. “I am no longer August Dupin. I am the man who is Edgar--Allan—Poe.” – Dupin, p. 172.

Dupin says this when he has solved the crime and found his story. This moment illustrates the end of his inner-
conflict of deciding who he is.

7. “I’ll find her…” – Edmund, p. 178.

Edmund says this to his mother about Sis at the end of Part II. This statement is significant because it shows
that Edmund has developed confidence and resolve. He is transforming from the meek child he was in the
beginning of the novel into the decisive hero he will be at the conclusion of the novel.

8. “Lies have their own truth.” – Edmund, p. 192.

Edmund remembers that Poe said this to him once, as he is thinking of where Sis could be kept. This quotation,
as remembered by Edmund and stated by Poe, shows how there are true elements of fiction

9. “And we two made a bargain, didn’t we?”- Throck, p. 202.

Throck says this to Edmund after Edmund asks Throck not to listen to Poe, while aboard Peggy. Poe has just
told Edmund that he will not allow him to destroy the story, in which Sis must die. Edmund is terrified that Poe
will try to kill Sis, or prevent her from being saved. This quotation illustrates how many of the adults Edmund
encounters are motivated by selfishness. Throck only agrees to help Edmund find Sis if Edmund makes sure
Throck gets the reward money promised for the return of his mother.

10. “Edmund, you say I wished your sister to die. I say I wished my story to live.” – Poe, p. 211.

Poe says this to Edmund as he is leaving. This quotation demonstrates an important concept to this plot: there
are two sides to every truth. Poe’s wanting Sis to die in reality and live in his story are presented as opposing
ideas; yet, they have the same outcome. Essentially, they are two different ways of looking at the same thing.

SYMBOLISM / MOTIFS / IMAGERY
Edmund - For Poe, who suffers from an identity crisis, the name Edmund symbolizes another version of
himself. Poe notes the close relationship between the names “Edmund” and “Edgar.” This similarity along with
Edmund’s missing mother, wicked stepfather, and beloved Sis, makes Poe think that Edmund’s story should be
the same as his-- meaning the story must end with Sis’s death. The symbolic nature of Edmund’s name is
further illustrated in the Prologue to Poe’s story-version of the events in which he first names the main character
“Edgar” then changes it to “Edmund.” This change shows how, for Poe, “Edgar” and “Edmund” are
interchangeable.

The daguerreotype of Poe - The daguerreotype that Poe has made of himself symbolizes the malleable border
between what is real and what is imagined. Poe actually did sit for a daguerreotype in Providence, RI in 1848.
Avi has taken this material artifact and made a fictitious story that revolves around it. In bringing something
real into his story, Avi illustrates the point (made by Poe in the novel) that lies have their own truth. This idea
compliments the idea that the nature of reality is dependent upon how it is experienced—an idea which
pervades this novel.

22

Alcohol / Madness - Alcohol and madness are motifs that are virtually interchangeable in this story. Poe
becomes irrational when he drinks. Poe is also irrational when he has fits of madness, such as when he believes
the guests at Mrs. Whitman’s house are demons. Alcohol and madness work together to make Poe and
unreliable and suspicious character. This element of Poe’s characterization heightens the novel’s suspense
because, for the majority of the novel, Mr. Dupin is the only help Edmund has in finding his mother and Sis.

IMPORTANT / KEY FACTS SUMMARY
Title: The Man Who Was Poe

Author: Avi

Date Published: 1989

Setting: Providence, RI in 1848.

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Tense: Past.

Meaning of the Title: The title of the novel, The Man Who Was Poe, refers to Edgar Allan Poe’s identity crisis.
He has lost the ability to write and is plagued with melancholia and alcoholism. When he regains the ability to
tell a story, Dupin insists upon being called Poe.

Protagonist: Edmund Brimmer

Antagonist: Rachett and Peterson

Mood: Suspenseful

Point of View: Third Person, Omniscient

Exposition: The first chapter, where we learn Edmund’s conflict and background information.

Climax: The climax occurs when Edmund confronts Mr. Peterson at the docks.

Outcome: Edmund is reunited with his mother and sister.

Major Theme: The malleable border between what is real and what is imagined.

VOCABULARY LIST / HISTORICAL REFERENCE
Decrepit - worn out, broken down with age

Dismal - dreary and dull

Baleful - ominous, intending harm

Squalor - filthy; in a miserable condition

Deduce - to infer

23

Torpor - sluggish, apathetic

Loath - reluctant

Stymie - an obstacle

Abut - touching end-to-end

Daguerreotype - An early form of photograph made by a process using a silver plate

STUDY QUESTIONS / QUIZ
Multiple Choice

1. Why does Edmund leave Sis?
A. To find Aunty Pru
B. To get food
C. To deliver a letter to Mrs. Whitman

2. Why did Aunty Pru leave?
A. To meet a man who was going to help her find Edmund’s mother
B. To visit her sick mother in London
C. To have her portrait painted

3. What is the name of the ship on which Mr. Fortnoy claimed to keep watch?
A. The Ulysses S. Grant
B. The Queen Mary
C. The Lady Liberty

4. What does Sis leave behind to help Edmund find her?
A. Buttons
B. String
C. Bread Crumbs

5. Who is Edmund’s friend at the docks?
A. Captain Elias
B. Mr. Poley
C. Catherine

6. What is Edgar Allan Poe’s profession?
A. Actor
B. Singer
C. Writer

7. Where does the name August Dupin come from?
A. He was a United States President
B. He is a character in Poe’s stories
C. He was Poe’s real father

8. Why is Edmund not certain that the dead woman is Aunty Pru?
A. She has a different hair color
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B. She is wearing a different dress
C. She is too tall

9. Whom does Mrs. Powers want her daughter to marry?
A. Mr. Dupin
B. Mr. Arnold
C. Mr. Throck

10. What name does Dupin give Peterson?
A. Jack White
B. August Dupin
C. Edward Grey

11. Where does Edmund find his mother?
A. In the church
B. In the mausoleum
C. In the bank

12. In the decoded message, what does “Sunrise” refer to?
A. The time the sun rises
B. A ship
C. A saloon

13. Whom does Dupin want to marry?
A. Mrs. Whitman
B. Mrs. Powers
C. Mrs. Rachett

14. What did Rachett steal from Edmund’s mother?
A. A precious family heirloom
B. Her ship, The Lady Liberty
C. Her money

15. Where is Edmund from?
A. Paris
B. London
C. California

Answer Key
1. b 2. a 3. c 4.a 5.a 6.c 7. b 8. b 9. b 10. c 11. a 12. b 13. a 14. c 15. b

ESSAY QUESTION TOPICS / BOOK REPORT IDEAS
1. Write an essay describing the first encounter between Mrs. Whitman and Edmund from Mrs. Whitman’s
perspective. Make sure to include any emotions she might have about Poe. Does she love him? Does she think
he can overcome his problem with alcohol?

2. Why do you think Poe decides to call himself August Dupin? What qualities might Poe admire about Dupin?
How is he finally able to reclaim his own identity?

25

3. Write an essay from the point of view of Catherine. How did she meet Mrs. Powers? Why is she involved
with helping Mr. Arnold? How does she feel about being a servant girl? Where is her family?

4. What do you think happened between Edmund and Poe once Sis was found? Did they remain friends? Did
Poe go somewhere else in search of another story?

5. Examine the twins theme. Dupin says that there are two sides to everything; is this idea represented in the
twins, are they two sides of one person as Poe’s own writing suggests? Does the twin theme apply to Poe’s own
split personality, in which he sometimes acts as Dupin and other times acts as Poe?

6. Examine the character of Dupin/Poe from a psychological perspective. What motivates him? What are the
possible outcomes of his self-destructive behavior?

7. Explain the quotation “Evil is only the name we give…our secret fears.” Dupin says this when he explains
why his writing focuses on evil. Is Poe simply a madman, or do most people have irrational fears?

8. What themes in this novel are present in Poe’s own writing? Why might Avi has used the themes of Poe’s
works in his novel?

9. Find and explain five references to Poe’s works in this novel.

10. Why do you think Avi chose 1848, the year before Poe died to write this novel? Does Avi depict Poe as a
man who teeters on the edge of madness or as a man at the height of his genius?

COMMENT ON THE STUDY OF LITERATURE
The study of literature is not like the study of math or science, or even history. While those disciplines are based
largely upon fact, the study of literature is based upon interpretation and analysis. There are no clear-cut
answers in literature, outside of the factual information about an author's life and the basic information about
setting and characterization in a piece of literature. The rest is a highly subjective reading of what an author has
written; each person brings a different set of values and a different background to the reading. As a result, no
two people see the piece of literature in exactly the same light, and few critics agree on everything about a book
or an author.

In this set of PinkMonkey Literature Notes, we at PinkMonkey.com have tried to give an objective literary
analysis based upon the information actually found in the novel, book, or play. In the end, however, it is an
individual interpretation, but one that we feel can be readily supported by the information that is presented in
the guide. In your course of literature study, you or your professor/teacher may come up with a different
interpretation of the mood or the theme or the conflict. Your interpretation, if it can be logically supported with
information contained within the piece of literature, is just as correct as ours; so is the interpretation of your
teacher or professor.

Literature is simply not a black or white situation; instead, there are many gray areas that are open to varying
analyses. Your task is to come up with your own analysis that you can logically defend. Hopefully, these
PinkMonkey Literature Notes will help you to accomplish that goal.

Copyright ©2005 TheBestNotes.com.
Reprinted with permission of TheBestNotes.com. All Rights Reserved. Distribution without the written consent
of PinkMonkey.com and TheBestNotes.com is strictly prohibited.

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