Gothic literature authors emphasize literary elements in their stories to create tension and suspense. In “The Devil and Tom Walker” Washington Irving uses satire to make the reader think about what will happen later in the story. Another instance of literary devices creating tension and suspense in gothic literature is Edgar Allen Poe’s use of personification in “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Other than foreshadowing and personification both authors also use mood to develop suspense and tension.
American author Edgar Allen Poe illustrates how an individual’s internal chaos and anxiety can drive him insane. It is emotional narrative using pathos where Poe tells a dark murderous story through vivid characters, a puzzling plot and a setting that I found unique. First, the portrayal of the characters plays a fundamental role in the creation of the plot, without strong characters, the ideas might appear simple. Poe creates vivid characters which effectively assist the construction of the plot and ideas.
Imagery allows Poe to get the attention of the reader’s imagination and captivate a common emotion of suspense and horror. Poe used his reader’s reaction to his writing as a way to feel normal. He would write in a way that would make the reader feel impart to the mentally ill narrator so that he, himself, could feel like a traditional
The Raven crafts the idea of suspense by using a range of different types of literary features. The use of hyperboles creates more suspense because the more exaggeration used grips the reader in more. Describing the Raven as “Ghastly, Grim and ancient” (8) makes the idea that the author is trying to get through, more coherent as Poe is offering more description. The way Poe repeats his “Sorrow for the lost Lenore” (2) helps embed the idea that he misses Lenore but it also makes the reader wonder where she went, why she left and why she is so important, which creates suspense. The way Poe uses repetition and pathos when he is trying to get an idea through is very prominent.
In many circumstances, just like “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Raven,” his writings tapped deep into the complexities of the human mind, exploring mentally ill genre tropes of madness, inevitability, fear, and hopelessness (Shulman, 1970). In the aggregate, Edgar Allan Poe's works exhibit a consistent use of gothic literature elements which are shaped by both his personal experiences of grief and loss, and his deteriorating mental state. Through his portrayal of complex characters and his use of haunting language, Poe's stories offer a unique exploration of the deepest aspects of the human mind and have had a lasting impact on the genre of horror and suspenseful fiction. Although many argue that an individual’s past doesn’t portray their character, his legacies are renownedly marked by a distinctive style of layered plots, internally-complex characters, and the application of language that is both evocative and haunting. Even to this day, Poe’s influence on the genre of macabre, horror, and mystery provokes readers to dive deeper into the reflection of the mind (Shulman,
Poe takes the environment of the narrator and immerses us in it to show the thought development of the narrator. As a result of this immersion, Poe illustrates the narrator's lack of control and his
In “The Fall of the House of Usher” the tone gives off an eerie and bizarre feeling. This is similar to many of Poe’s other short stories but this piece the most. The tone is gloomy compared to “The Black Cat” that Poe has also written. The author starts off the story with immense details of the setting. The readers get a dark vibe from these details.
The story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a good example of how descriptive writing is able to portray a message because it's about a man who has a last dying wish come true in the characters mind right before death. It starts with, “As he pushes open the gate and passes up the wide white walk, he sees a flutter of female garments; his wife, looking fresh and feel and sweet, steps down from the veranda to meet him”(Bierce). It is incredibly descriptive as the author talks about how the main character sees the wife walk down from the deck and give him a hug. It uses a lot of detail to portray how important the wife was and how as death is approaching, the only thing the character could have thought about was the character's wife. It uses descriptive language to get an important message through to the reader and does so in a very captivating way.
“There was a coldness, a sickening of the heart, in which I could discover nothing to lighten the weight I felt” This line perfectly sums up the overall tone of The Fall of the House of Usher. The story at its most basic level is about a man who visits his old friend in a house which is seemingly under some sort of supernatural hex. The way Poe goes into such detail describing the characters and their personal reactions to the events that take place during the story help the reader to stay close to the actions of the story. Additionally Poe describes the house so well that the reader can easily picture the dilapidated mess as if standing in front of it.
The crack in the house and the dead trees imply that the house and its surroundings are not sturdy or promising. These elements indicate that a positive outcome is not expected. The thunder,strange light, and mist create a spooky feeling for the reader. In "The Fall of the house of Usher," Edgar Allan Poe creates suspense and fear in the reader. He also tries to convince the reader not to let fear overcome him.
Modern artists today generally use images of physical and mental illness in literature. In The Tell-Tale Heart and The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, both short stories show the usage of illness, madness, and fear. The narrators in both stories try to convince the readers that the characters are physically and mentally ill. Edgar Allen Poe creates these vivid characters which successfully assist the building of plot and ideas. Poe demonstrates how a person’s inner turmoil and terror can lead to insanity through illustrative language.
“ The Fall of the House of Usher “ by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story about a man named Roderick Usher who initiates some events such as evoking his friend The Narrator as a protagonist to the dreadful mansion. The images such as the house and gothic ambience are used to reinforce the idea of giving the mystery to the reader. Edgar Allan Poe uses gothic elements to show how they affect the atmosphere and the characters. In the beginning , the gothic atmosphere of the house is indicated with terrifying images such as “ dull, dark and soundless ” that the feeling of horror vaccinated into reader by the thoughts of the narrator.
Throughout “The Fall of the House of Usher,” metaphor and symbolism are heavily relied upon to express the extent of the madness that resides within the Usher House. In the short story, Poe creates a symbolic parallel between the art and stories that are seen and told. It can be implied, from a painting, in the Usher house, that Lady Madeline Usher is still alive. The reader can also imply that there is a hidden tunnel or room under the entirety of the house. “The Mad Trist” indirectly tells the reader of Lady Madeline’s escape from the tomb she had been placed in.
Poe’s focus on the thoughts and emotions surrounding the protagonist, while providing few physical details of the events, gives the reader a psychological thrill as they are drawn into the mind of a
Throughout American literature and cinema history, the premature burial of someone has been displayed. In the American gothic short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” by Edgar Allan Poe, this is portrayed as well. Roderick Usher buries his twin sister, Madeline Usher, alive because he believes that she has died. In Poe’s, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” it showcases Poe’s troubled past with the death of loved ones due to disease. Thus, it contributes to the theme one can never trust anyone, even one’s own family.
