““The Pit and the The Pit and the Pendulum”Pendulum”Edgar A. PoeEdgar A. Poe

General InfoGeneral Info

Written in 1842 Author: Edgar Allan Poe The time span of 1842-1843 was a time when Poe wrote many of his most known works.( “The Pit and the Pendulum”

1842, “The Tell-Tale Heart”- Jan. 1843, “The Masque of Red Death”- April 1842, “The Black Cat”- 1843)

SettingSetting

Setting: Toledo, Spain- Dungeon- During the Spanish inquisition

Allusion- a reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event. Its purpose is to explain and enhance the subject of the text.

This story alludes the Spanish Inquisition. *Note: The Spanish Inquisition began in 1487 under

the rule of KingFerdinand and Queen Isabella as well as Pope Sextius IV. The Spanish Inquisition tried to eliminate all non-Catholic, especially Jews and Muslims. It ended centuries later in 1834.

Point of ViewPoint of View

Point of View:: ~ 1st person POV: is told by a character who refers to himself or herself as “I” ~ Purposes- 1.We share immediately in the narrator’s experience

and feelings. 2.We know what only the narrator knows 3.The reader experiences what the narrator experiences. 4. Creates a sense of intimacy. 5. It limits the reader’s knowledge.

The narrator: our The narrator: our protagonist/main characterprotagonist/main character

Nameless Antagonist- ~ his insanity ~ his tormentors ~ time, etc. *Note- Poe rarely has a story with a happy ending. In Poe’s mind, the narrator, even after being rescued, can continue with a new, more

frightening type of torture…life.

Theme: central ideaTheme: central idea

Untimely Death Isolation Torture Will to live vs. desire to die- Survival Fear Loss of time Persecution

Genre: category into Genre: category into which a story fallswhich a story falls

Fiction- the events of the story did not happen ~ Horror Fiction ~ Gothic Novel: supernatural horrors and

atmosphere of unknown terror; extreme emotions (anger,surprise, fear, etc.)

Note: Poe is given credit for introducing the

modern detective story

Style: the way a writer uses Style: the way a writer uses language and literary language and literary elementselements

Use of Latin and French ( can be confusing to modern readers) Minimum use of characterization, plot and atmosphere Interest in the events that happen to people rather than the individual Uses a repeated male character- some say this male character may be various parts of him Famous for his use of suspense

SymbolSymbol

Pit= hell Pendulum= slow, approaching death;

time ticking down Father Time= Zeus’ father, Cronus;

controller of time Darkness= The unknown; ignorance Rats= A potential problem turned positive Unseen tormentors= personal “demons”

With a partner. . . With a partner. . .

What do you think really happens to the narrator at the end of the story?

Which aspect of the narrator’s torture—

physical or psychological—do you find

more horrible? Why?