POE extract.pdf

8/14/2019 POE extract.pdf

1/23

PIT AND THE PENDULUM

Genre: Short story

Tone: Tense, anxious, desperate, grim, straightforward

Mood: Suspenseful, nightmarish, terrifying

Genre: Short story, horror

Audience: (American) English speaking people( of that

time)

Diction: Semi formal, colloquial

Theme: Torture, isolation

Setting: Prison cell

Point of View: 1st

person perspective

Voice: Narrator

Protagonist: Narrator

Antagonist: Inquisition

Conflict: Narrator versus I nquisition

Motif: Animal (rats)

Characterization: Narrator has an ability to describe

every minute detail very meticulously and somewhat

exaggeratedly.

Stream of Consciousness

Synesthesia

authorial intrusion -> poe break the 4th wall

allusion - casual reference to a historical figure(pit

and the pendulum -> inquisition)

poe's aphorism

(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/ed

gar_allan_poe.html)

dystopia (pit and the pendulum)

appealing to logicAppeals to Emotion (Pathos)

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The story is written with the Spanish Inquisition in mind. The Spanish Inquisition is a movement by the Spanish troops

aiming to convert people into Catholicism. Those who do not comply with this goal are subjected to torture and

subsequently, death, for refusing to convert. In TPATP, the Narrator is most likely one of those people. He refused to

convert, therefore those white-robed judges condemned him to a prison cell fitted with various torture methods.

CULTURAL

Catholicism

Torture methods

SOCIAL

Torture
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.html


2/23

Hyperbole: but the agony of my soulDelayed sentence: At lengthfirm floor of the prisonflatter and flatter grew the lozenge

Consonance: loud, long, and final

Rhetorical q: Might I have not knownurge me? Could I resist its glow?

Inverted syntax: flatter and flatter grew the lozenge into the pit it was the object of the burning iron to urge me

Personification: yawning gulf

Invective: Fool!

Trans Wds/expletive: if even that

Imagery: glow yawning gulf burning iron closing walls seared and writhing body firm floor of the prisonfinal

scream of despair

Place setting: The prison cell

Characterization: Doesnt give up easily

H: Beingpressuredto give in to the torture and die for not obeying the Inquisition

BURNING as a method of torture, very limited foothold, you slip you die >> burning at the stake.

Tone: Urgency, desperation


3/23


4/23

Expletives: the no!s

Analogy/metaphor The gossamer web of some dream

Periphrasis Arousing from the most profound of slumbers

Anaphora: In the deepest slumber.In deathno!

Repetition: the no!s

Theme: never-fading memory, in and out of consciousness

Characterization: Somewhat philosophical Else there is no immortality for man

Motif: Swoon

Delayed sentence: What of it there remained.all is not lost

Hyperbaton: what of it there

Imagery: I had swooned we break the gossamer web of some dream


5/23

Trans wds: Notwithstanding

Repetition: again and again

Diction: grandiloquent crescent fray the serge terrifically hissing vigor of its descent sunder these very walls ofiron

Parallel syntax: It would frayagainand again

Circumlocution/amplification

Personification: the hissing vigor of its descent

Imagery I saw that the crescent the vibration of the pendulum terrifically wide sweep

Consonance: the hissing vigor of its descent sufficient to sunder these very walls

Delayed sentence: notwithstandingaccomplishI dwelt..in so dwelling

Paradox/oxymoron: peculiar thrilling

Onomatopoeia: hissing

Cultural

Cross my heart is a gesture of allegiance, of promise, and loyalty. The cross here is fatal.

Common saying cross my heart and hope to die

Historical

Pendulum >> method of torture for slow and painful death


6/23

Expletive: oh! Most unrelenting!

Imagery: the vapour of heated iron suffocating odor deeper glow richer tint of crimson glowing metal

Tone: surprise, panic

Figurative lang: a deeper glow settled each moment in the eyes that glared at my agonies

Hyperbole: pictured horrors of bloodmost demoniac of men

Anthromorphism: the breath of the vapour of heated iron

Characterization: character remembers sensorial experiences very well.

Diction: poetically descriptive richer tint of crimson picturedhorrors of blood

Consonance: pervaded prison deeper

Conflict: man vs prison cell vs pit

Parallel syntax: oh!most unrelenting-most demoniac of men!

Irony: most demoniac of men while the Inquisition claims to fight for God

COLOR SYMBOLISM

CRIMSON = RED

Color of danger, fire, blood and boldness.


7/23

Imagery: startled and terrified Forth from the well they hurried in fresh troops

Consonance: vain upon their voracity, Observingsmelt at the surcingle. This seemed the signal forth from..fresh

Asyndeton: they shrank..the well

Characterization: Narrator is cautious I remained without motion

Denotation: Well

Delayed sentence: Forth fromtroops

Asyndeton this seemed(to be) the signal for two of the boldest(animal) leaped

Delayed sentence: Forth from the well they hurried in fresh troops

Anaphora: at the changeat the cessation

[198] I saw clearly the doom which had been prepared for me, and congratulated myself upon

the timely accident by which I had escaped. Another step before my fall, and the world had

seen me no more. And the death just avoided, was of that very character which I had regarded

as fabulous and frivolous in the tales respecting the Inquisition. To the victims of its tyranny,

there was the choice of death with its direst physical agonies, or death with its most hideous

moral horrors. I had been reserved for the latter.

Euphemism: The world had seen me no more

Consonance: to the victims of its tyranny

Circumlocution: congratulated myself...escaped

Anthropomorphism: death..character..fabulous

Allusion: INQUISITION


8/23

[286] A slight noise attracted my notice, and, looking to the floor, I

saw several enormous rats traversing it. They had issued from the

well, which lay just within view to my right. Even then, while I

gazed, they came up in troops, hurriedly, with ravenous eyes,

allured by the scent of the meat. From this it required much effort

and attention to scare them away.

Imagery: a slight noisesaw several enormous rats

Expletive: looking to the floor

Trans wd: and, even then

Anthropomorphism: ravenous eyes

Delayed sentence: a slight noisetraversing it

Consonance: saw several enormous rats traversing


9/23

THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

Genre: Short story

Tone:

Mood:


Audience: (American) English speaking people


Theme: Vengeance, payback, punishment

Setting: Italian town, Montresor family residence

Point of View: 1st

person perspective

Voice:Montresor

Conflict: Montresor vs Fortunato, as perceived by Montresor

Characterization: Montresor is a man determined to avenge and Fortunato is a wine connoisseur prideful of his taste,

which became his fatal flaw.

Stream of Consciousness

HISTORICAL

Catacombs are underground burial places where bodies of the deceased are interred in the walls of the catacomb in a

stacked fashion. For Montresors family to have a private catacomb means that he is a wealthy man of considerablelineage.

TUBERCULOSIS -- virginia

CULTURAL

Festivals are huge deals in Italy. Wine is also a huge deal in Italy. Wine connoiseurship is very prized and well thought of.

SOCIAL

The Italians also seem to be huge on the idea of vendetta, vengeance and vigilantism, probably affected by the Mafia

culture and the clash between families. The idea of an eye for an eye is very apparent in TCOA.


10/23

Onomatopoeia: the Ughs

Asyndeton: rich, respected, admired, beloved

Litote: For me it is no matter

Consonance: You will be ill

Connotation: You are a man to be missed.

Euphony: beloved

Characterization: Narrator seems to be a considerate person we will go back, your health is precious

Dramatic Irony

Foreshadowing: You are a man to be missedMy poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes

Repetition: the Ughs

Anaphora: You are richas once I was. You are a man to be missed


11/23

Time frame: Dusk, evening

CULTURAL: Carnival madness, Italian party clothing, custom of drinking at festivals, social drinking

Imagery: it was about dusk he had on a tight -fitting parti-striped dress

Connotation: motley = colorful

Delayed sentence It was about duskI encountered my friend

Diction: Sophisticated accosted surmounted motley

Characterization: he accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much


12/23

CONNOTATION/Cultural Context: Virtuoso = a master

Setting: ITALY

Expletive: as was my wont

Polysyndeton: I continued.immolation

Characterization: Fortunato: He prided himself on his connoiseurship in wine in other regards he was a man to be

respected and even feared

Narrator: Careful, crafty It must be understoodwill Good actor to smile in his face, and he did not perceive..

Juxtaposition: respected and even feared


13/23

Dor = of gold/golden. Foot dor = golden foot.

Nemo me impune lacessit = no one attacks me withimpunity.

Denotation: arms

Cultural Context

Arms = coat of arms, familial symbol. Belongs to

prominent families or royal houses or orders.

Extensive faults = extremely well to do family.

SYMBOLISM

Gold = wealth, abundance, glory.

Foot = lowest part of human body, the serpent biting

the foot might imply that enemies will attack the lowest

part because they can only do that much

Heel = might be ALLUSION to the Grecian myth, the

Achilles heel.

Achilles is a Grecian hero, son of the Nereid Thetis.

When he was little, to protect him from harm, Thetis

held him by his heels and submerged him in river Styx,

the river of Hades (Underworld). Because his heels were

not touched by the water, they are not protected. That

heel became his weak point, because it is the only part

of his body that is not immune to physical harm.

Serpent biting the heel = enemies trying to attack the

vulnerable parts of the Montresor family, or a

Montresor.

Therefore the serpent must be crushed before its

venom can spread.

Serpents symbolism is a Bibliomancy.

In Genesis, the Serpent is the one whose fatal flaw was

its talkativeness. So is Fortunatos. his words made him

punished.

It is also the one who brought Eve to sinning, leading toAdam and Eves punishment. Fortunatos words led

montresor to sin.

Serpents mouths are VENOMOUS just like Fortunatos,

as perceived by Montresor.

Fortunatos venom attacks Montresors weak point, so

he must punish him for that.

Inverted syntax: in a field azure serpent rampant

Consonance: serpent rampant

Foreshadowing: later Fortunato would be punished in

impunity for being the rampant serpent biting

Montresors foot.


14/23

Dramatic irony: a Mason (FreemasonFortunato) buried behind Masonry.

Hyperbaton: in a great measure worn off

Colloquial lang: Masonry = stone. Refers to the bricks used to wall-bury Fortunato.

Delayed sentence: I had scarcely laidgreat measure worn off

Setting: Inside the catacomb.

Symbolism: sat down upon the bones

Trans Wds: during which

Polysyndeton: I laid the second tier.of the chain

Characterization: Narrator takes pleasure in Fortunatos act of rebellion I might hearken to it with the more

satisfaction


15/23

Setting: vaults o f the catacombs of the Montresor

Consonance: several suites of rooms

Amplification: long and winding

Denotation: footbowed

Parallel syntax: I passed down.followed

Imagery: damp ground of the catacombs

[233] No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and

let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My

heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so. Ihastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its

position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old

rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them.

In pace requiescat!

Synecdoche: my heart

Imagery: only a jingling of the bells

Setting: catacombs

Periphrasis: I hastened to make an end of my labor:

Asyndeton: I forcedplastered it up

Anaphora: I hastenedI forced

Consonance: thrust a torch through the


16/23

[219] "Ha! ha! ha!he! he! he!a very good joke, indeedan

excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo

he! he! he!over our winehe! he! he!"

"The Amontillado!" I said.

"He! he! he!he! he! he!yes, the Amontillado. But is it not

getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady

Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone.

Onomatopoeia: Hahaha hehehe

Expletive: a very good joke, indeed

Cultural context: palazzo

Connotation: gone

Amplification: a very good joke, indeed, an excellent jest.


17/23

TELL TALE HEART

Genre: Short story

Tone: confident, triumphant (in the beginning)

Mood: Suspenseful, nightmarish, terrifying


Audience: (American) English speaking people


Theme: Revenge,

Setting: Prison cell

Point of View: 1st

person perspective

Voice: Narrator

Protagonist: Narrator

Antagonist: Inquisition

Conflict: Narrator versus I nquisition

Characterization: Narrator has an ability to describe every minute detail very meticulously and somewhat exaggeratedly.

Social: Evil in the World, Pride, Good vs. Evil

Historical: Poes life:connect to John Allan

Cultural: taking care of old people


18/23

repetition: very, very dreadfully

Anaphora: not destroyednot dulled I heard all thingsI heard many things..

Juxtaposition: in the heaven and in the earth

Rhetorical Q: How, then, am I mad?

Imagery: very dreadfully nervous I had been and am.. above all was the sense of hearing acute

Inverted syntax: hearing acute

Connotation: heaven hell

Hyperbole: I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth.

Characterization: Narrator has super-sensitive sensory skills above all was the sense of hearing acute


19/23

Anadiplosis: stone, stone dead onceonce only

Imagery: I then smiled gaily :it would not be heard through the wall stone, stone dead loud yell

Euphemism: the old mans hour had come the deed so far done

Characterization: I then smiled gaily

Repetition: stone, stone dead; once, once only

Trans wd: however

Consonance: in an instant I dragged himfind the deed so far done

Colloquial lang: deed done


20/23

repetition: searchsearch well

Asyndeton: treasures, secure, undisturbed

Paralellism: The shriek, I saidabsent in the country

Imagery: I showed them his treasuresI brought chairs into the room very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of

the victim

Hyperbole: in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph

Anaphora: The shriek..The old man

Characterization: Fearless madman for what I had to fear?, glib liar The old man..absent in the country


21/23

Anthromorphism It haunted me day and night

Hyperbole it haunted me day and night

Delayed sentence: Object there was none. Passion there was none for his gold I had no desire

Repetition: Object there was none. Passion there was none

Anaphota: He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult

Synecdoche: thus rid myself of the eye forever

Paralellism:Object there was.never given me insult

Imagery: the eye of a vulture, a pale blue eye..

Hyperbole: my blood ran cold

Characterization: I loved the old man. He had never wronged me.

MOTIF: AnimalVULTURE


22/23

Repetition: very, very little stealthily, stealthily

Simile: like the thread of the spider

Denotation: shot from out

Consonance: fell full upon the vulture

Suspense: you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily

Oxymoron: dim ray

Simile: like the thread of the spider

[89] And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is

but over acuteness of the senses?now, I say, there came to my

ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when

enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the

beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury, as the

beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.

Analogy: as the beating.couragesuch as a watch..cotton

Asyndeton: low, dull, quick sound

Logos: have I not told yousenses?

Rhetorical q: And have isenses?

Imagery: came to my ears sound


23/23

Repetition/anaphora: With what caution, with what foresight, with what dissimulation

Repetition: very, veryclosed, closed

Allegory: light shone out

Characterization: I was never kinder

Oxymoron: Dark lantern

Bildungsroman: guilt growing, madness

Logos: Madmen know nothing

Foreshadow: before I killed him

Anadiplosis: You should have seen..you should have seen

Expletive: very, very slowly oh so gently

Consonance: night about midnight

Connotation: old man = dad.

Plot: opened the door and sneaked in

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POE extract.pdf