1.07: Narrator: "The Pit and the Pendulum"

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. Read this excerpt from "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe. Inch by inch—line by line—with a descent only appreciable at intervals that seemed ages—down and still down it came! Days passed—it might have been that many days passed—ere it swept so closely over me as to fan me with its acrid breath. How does the pacing of this passage *most affect* the story?

It creates a tense atmosphere that conveys the narrator's abject fear.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. Read this excerpt from "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe. There was a discordant hum of human voices! There was a loud blast as of many trumpets! There was a harsh grating as of a thousand thunders! The fiery walls rushed back! An outstretched arm caught my own as I fell, fainting, into the abyss. How does the pacing of this passage *most* affect the story?

It creates the frantic and frenzied atmosphere of the narrator's climactic rescue.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. Read this excerpt from "The Pit and The Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe. At length, with a wild desperation at heart, I quickly unclosed my eyes. My worst thoughts, then, were confirmed. The blackness of eternal night encompassed me. I struggled for breath. The intensity of the darkness seemed to oppress and stifle me. How does the first-person point of view *most affect* the meaning of the text?

It explains exactly how the narrator feels about the pitch dark, and it allows the reader to share that fear.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. Read this excerpt from "The Pit and The Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe. I was sick—sick unto death with that long agony; and when they at length unbound me, and I was permitted to sit, I felt that my senses were leaving me. The sentence—the dread sentence of death—was the last of distinct accentuation which reached my ears. How does the first-person point of view *most* affect the meaning of the text?

It explains that, despite his sickness and overall confusion, the narrator understands that he's been sentenced to death.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. Read this excerpt from "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe. These shadows of memory tell, indistinctly, of tall figures that lifted and bore me in silence down—down—still down—till a hideous dizziness oppressed me at the mere idea of the interminableness of the descent. How does the first-person point of view *most* affect the meaning of the text?

It helps the reader understand the narrator's utter fear and hazy understanding of where his captors are taking him.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. In "The Pit and the Pendulum," the narrator explains, "I proceeded for many paces; but still all was blackness and vacancy." How does Poe's inclusion of this description affect the story?

It increases the suspense by maintaining the narrator's sense of displacement and uncertainty.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. Read this excerpt from "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe. Down—steadily down it crept. I took a frenzied pleasure in contrasting its downward with its lateral velocity. To the right—to the left—far and wide—with the shriek of a damned spirit; to my heart with the stealthy pace of the tiger! How does the pacing of this passage *most* affect the story?

It creates an agitated atmosphere that conveys the narrator's anxiety over the descending pendulum.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. "The Pit and the Pendulum" is told by a first-person narrator. How does Poe's decision to use this point of view affect the story?

Because it only shows the narrator's version of events, it makes the reader sympathetic to him.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. How does the first-person point of view affect "The Pit and the Pendulum"?

Because it shows only what the narrator knows at any given point, it increases suspense and tension.

How does the author create suspense in this excerpt?

By describing a mysterious physical situation that could be a deadly trap for the narrator.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. In "The Pit and the Pendulum," the narrator explains, "I put forward my arm, and shuddered to find that I had fallen at the very brink of a circular pit...." How does this description of the narrator's predicament affect the story?

It adds suspense by introducing real, narrowly avoided danger into the narrator's situation.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. Which statement *best* summarizes the effect of the first-person point of view on Poe's story "The Pit and the Pendulum"?

The first-person point of view lets Poe give the reader an insider's view into the terror and agony of the imprisonment.

Read the passage. *excerpt from "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe* So far, I had not opened my eyes. I felt that I lay upon my back, unbound. I reached out my hand, and it fell heavily upon something damp and hard. There I suffered it to remain for many minutes, while I strove to imagine where and what I could be. I longed, yet dared not to employ my vision. I dreaded the first glance at objects around me. It was not that I feared to look upon things horrible, but that I grew aghast lest there should be nothing to see. At length, with a wild desperation at heart, I quickly unclosed my eyes. My worst thoughts, then, were confirmed. The blackness of eternal night encompassed me.I struggled for breath. The intensity of the darkness seemed to oppress and stifle me. The atmosphere was intolerably close. I still lay quietly, and made effort to exercise my reason. I brought to mind the inquisitorial proceedings, and attempted from that point to deduce my real condition. The sentence had passed; and it appeared to me that a very long interval of time had since elapsed. How does Poe create suspense in this excerpt?

By describing the narrator's distress as he tries to figure out where he is.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story. In "The Pit and the Pendulum," the narrator explains, "The intensity of the darkness seemed to oppress and stifle me." Why does Poe include this description of the narrator's feelings about the darkness?

By having the narrator describe the darkness as a force that has a physical impact on him, Poe helps create a claustrophobic mood and a sense of the narrator's great fear and discomfort.

Read the passage. *excerpt from "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe* Down—steadily down it crept. I took a frenzied pleasure in contrasting its downward with its lateral velocity. To the right—to the left—far and wide—with the shriek of a damned spirit; to my heart with the stealthy pace of the tiger!... Down—certainly, relentlessly down! It vibrated within three inches of my bosom! I struggled violently, furiously, to free my left arm. This was free only from the elbow to the hand. I could reach the latter, from the platter beside me, to my mouth, with great effort, but no farther. ... Down—still unceasingly—still inevitably down! I gasped and struggled at each vibration. I shrunk convulsively at its every sweep. My eyes followed its outward or upward whirls with the eagerness of the most unmeaning despair; they closed themselves spasmodically at the descent, although death would have been a relief, oh! how unspeakable! How does the author create suspense in this excerpt?

The author repeats the word down to show the slow descent of the pendulum.