Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was a great other who grew from barely anything. We knew his mother died, but what I didn't know was that his mother died shortly after his father abandoned them. He was adopted, but his new family didn't have much either. He couldn't afford to go to a university, so he tried to be a military cadet, but failed.  This is when he started focusing on writing. It was hard for him at first, but he started to make a pretty decent name for himself. (On a side note, when he was 26, he married his 13 year old cousin. Talk about John Proctor and Abigail..) When he published The Raven, it had immediate success, but two years later his "wife" died. (I can't bring myself to call them really a couple.) It was clear from this point onward that Poe was being to deteriorate mentally.
His life also had an affect on his death. No one knows how he really died, as his death certificate has been lost, but it is thought to be many various things like suicide, alcoholism, cholera, and even rabies. 

You don't even have to know that much to see how Poe's life influenced his writing. His life was very hard and quite depressing, and we can see this in the writing through it's Gothic themes and mystery. He even hints at the death he had to put up with, his mother and his wife. The darkness and depth of his writing is likely caused by the tragedy, torment, and loss Poe lived with. Even before reading about Poe, you could imply most of this from the writing. 

What is an American?

Well, this is definitely a frequently asked question. To me, being an American is not about being born in the United States or being a citizen. People don't say that they're an American because they're legally a citizen of the United States. I think it's more about a sense of belonging in the country, that you feel comfortable with the American culture. We have a very multicultural society, so I don't think it's hard to fit right in. On this note, notice how within 24 hours, nearly everyone in the country knows about how Miley Cyrus made a fool of herself at the MTV awards or has downloaded the latest social media app. Americans are very connected with their culture, too. 
It's not just about the culture, though. Americans stand together when the country needs support, like during the Boston Marathon bombing, or 9/11. This kind of terrible event brings the country closer. Americans also stand together though amazing accomplishments, like the first man on the moon. Americans remember these events with pride.
Last but not least, there's the patriot. In order to really be an American, you have to somehow love America, which sometimes can be hard, but has to be true. Americans are one, and you can't be one with something you don't even like. 
I think throughout this post, the points I've touched on all suggest one thing, togetherness. Americans talk together, laugh together, stand together, are together. America is everywhere, so it makes sense. I don't think it's hard to be an American, and it's definitely worth it.