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  • Essay / Suspense in The Pit and The Pendulum

    Edgar Allan Poe is one of the world's most famous authors. Poe was known for his fun and enjoyable stories of suspense and horror, The Pit and The Pendulum is one of them. Poe uses the title, types of figurative language, and obstacles and events throughout the text to unravel the story and build suspense, keeping the audience in suspense asking for more. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an original essayThe purpose of the title is to create suspense, make the audience think and want to continue reading. As soon as we read the words “pit” and “pendulum”, we realize that the two words are completely opposed. This gives the reader a sense of curiosity as to why the title? As the audience reads on, it is understandable that the pit is used for torture, just like the pendulum. Aside from their usage, the pit and pendulum also have very deep symbolism and effortless alliteration. The pendulum was clearly referring to time, as it swung like a grandfather clock, and the pit could have been considered death or hell because no one knows what will happen once they fall into it. Alliteration and symbolism were present throughout the story, not just in the title. An example of symbolism in the story would be that the judges represent destiny, they were the ones who had to choose whether he was going to die or not. An example of alliteration would be in the sentence: "In their voracity, the vermin frequently attached their sharp fangs to my fingers." » The alliteration used gave a horrible tone. This intensified what the man was feeling as he tried to convince the rats to release him. The rats also represent hope as they were his only path to freedom. Obstacles and events like the man trying to free himself with the help of vermin are the main elements that create suspense. The story begins with the first obstacle encountered by man: his death sentence. Here the suspense lies in the lack of knowledge about why he was convicted. . He also faced the challenge of death when he passed through the cell. He trips on his own dress and almost falls into the pit. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, ​The Pit and the Pendulum ​has a lot going for it as to what makes it exciting. The title, use of figurative language, and the challenges the man faces are what keeps the audience coming back for more..