Edgar Allan Poe is considered one of the most famous writers of all time. He is known for his grim and horrific stories and his seemingly pessimistic outlook on life. This overwhelming theme is rarely questioned by other writers and fans due to his personal tragedies; it is only fitting that a man as disturbed as Poe would write such disturbing stories. It is common knowledge that Poe had a heartbreaking life; he lost his biological mother, his adoptive mother, and his wife before going to college. Poe was inspired by the tragic and premature ends of his family members to write his trademark literature, long, eloquent works revolving around fate. It is atypical that one of his stories does not mention death in one way or another. In each of his stories, Poe talks about death in a different way. In two of his most famous works, "The Tell-Tale Heat" and "The Pit and Pendulum", the two main characters act differently in the face of death. By adding variety to his characters' reactions, Poe shows the reader that while death is universal, the way each person deals with it is unique. However, the repetitive theme of death makes Poe appear as a determined writer to many of his readers, capable only of focusing on the negative aspects of life. However, if we look more closely at “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Abyss and the Pendulum,” we see the opposite; while both clearly express the impending nature of death through different symbols and images, both subtly show that even when life is filled with darkness, there is still light, showing that even though Poe was a man dark and troubled, he still hoped that something positive would happen. People have completely different opinions on Poe's writing style, their opinions ran...... middle of paper ......d" the lantern in such a way that "only one thin ray fell on the vulture's eye” (Poe, 303). On the eighth night, the ray of light and the eye “meet”. The narrator uses light as protection against the eyes; the use of the lantern as a shield against death suggests that even in the darkest situations, one can always find light. In "The Pit and the Pendulum", the author maintains a calm mood throughout, showing that he has a positive attitude. At the end, the narrator is saved from prison by General Lasalle and escapes execution. This happy ending is uncommon for Poe, but shows that miracles in life are achievable and not atypical. lit/poestories/section7.rhtmlhttp://www.shmoop.com/tell-tale-heart/symbolism-imagery.htmlEdgar Allan Poe