Power Search
Low Price Guarantee
We Take School POs
The aim of the torturers, the tomb-like dungeon and symbols in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum"
Contributor(s): Bagossy, Renate (Author)

View larger image

 ISBN: 3640129482     ISBN-13: 9783640129485
Publisher: Grin Verlag
OUR PRICE: $36.01  

Binding Type: Paperback - See All Available Formats & Editions
Published: August 2008
Qty:
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Language Arts & Disciplines
- Biography & Autobiography
Physical Information: 0.07" H x 5.83" W x 8.27" L (0.11 lbs) 28 pages
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:
Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 2 (B), Martin Luther University (Anglistics/American Studies), course: Edgar Allan Poe, language: English, abstract: Edgar Allan Poe s "The Pit and the Pendulum" was first published in The Gift: A Christmas and New Year′s Present (1843) and revised for publication in The Broadway Journal of 17 May 1845. Although by this time the Spanish Inquisition was officially over, the American public was still interested in such topics. During the nineteenth century a fascination with death evolved. People were interested in gothic novels, were fascinated by horror stories, they loved tales that included elements of magic, supernatural and torture. This morbid fascination with death received its most intensive literary treatment at the hands of Edgar Allan Poe. In The Pit and the Pendulum Poe uses all the elements people were fond of: adventure, supernatural, horror, death, being helpless etc. He moves the sensibility of the reader and evokes a certain emotional reaction. In this term paper I am going to concentrate on how Poe achieved a certain effect with his story. First I will take a closer look at the prisoner s constant escapes, point out that most of these escapes are unbelievable and try to find out what the aim of his torturers might be. I will speculate on possibilities, what could have happened to the prisoner if he had made other choices during his stay in the dungeon. Then I will illustrate that there are certain parallels between a tomb and the dungeon in which the prisoner has to endure humiliation and agony, so the victim appears to be buried alive. Hope is the most important "property" he has, it seems as if nobody could take it away from him, and with the help of hope he survives his stay in the dungeon. Whether the story is based on a real or on a dream experience is pointed out shortly. Finally I will present and analyze the symbols that can be found in the story. These sy
 
Customer ReviewsSubmit your own review
 
To tell a friend about this book, you must Sign In First!