Summary Of The Tell Tale Heart, By Edgar Allan Poe

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Edgar Allan Poe is regarded as an influential author to the genre of horror and gothic tales that suggest what is out there (Van Leer back cover). Poe is best known for his dark and gruesome images, centered on death in order to provide his readers a sense of terror within oneself by showcasing what one is capable of doing (Giammarco 5). These qualities are contributed in Poe’s short stories such as, ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’, ‘The Man of the Crowd’ and ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’ as they all depict various characteristics of different individuals placed in society through the device of the narrator. Poe has faced many challenges in his life from an early age including loss, illness, a difficult upbringing and heavy gambling and drinking problems (Giammarco 4). Although, these tragic events helped Poe to become one of the most well known American Poets of the 19th century (Giammarco 6). Poe exemplifies terror in ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ by indicating what humanity is capable of doing in order to conquer their fears. This is conveyed through the narrator’s actions and tone when expressing his sanity although confesses to murder by being horrified of an old man’s vulture eye and wanting to permanently shut it. Poe’s vivid and rhetoric language portrayed allows his readers to become aware of what is out there by allowing them to grasp the narrator’s thoughts and mindset. This is revealed through the device of an ecphonesis, as it provides emotional and exclamatory phases to show the narrators persona of having a psychological illness, mood shifts and lack of insight. For example this device is used in the last paragraph of ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ as the use of exclamations allows the readers to understand the feelings and emotions of th... ... middle of paper ... ...em of what individuals are capable of doing. This is depicted in Poe’s short story by showcasing the process and reasons for the ways certain individuals may retaliate and act due to certain fears or obsessions. (37) The use of dialogue, monologue and the use of first person allow the readers to have an understanding of the narrator’s sense of concern, values and obsessions. By the readers able to understand the process and thought behind the narrator wanting to murder the old man who he visited several times can provide a sense of fear in society as individuals may question who they trust as any individual can contain the actions of homicide when placed under pressure. Poe incorporated numerous language devices to terrify the readers of what is out their by portraying the narrator being terribly anxious, overwhelmed with stress and have various mood shifts. (23)

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