Edgar Allen Poe is considered an influential author in the genre of horror and gothic tales, suggesting, "what's out there." Poe is best known for his dark and gruesome imagery focusing on death in order to provide his readers with a sense of internal terror. These qualities are evident in Poe's short story, "The Tell-tell Heart," as the narrator's instrument symbolizes various characteristics that individuals can possess. This is achieved through Poe's use of various literary devices to express the narrator's mindset, fears, and obsessions, which lead him to commit murder. Poe is able to inform his readers of “what is out there” while terrifying them of what individuals are capable of doing. . “The Tell-Tale Heart” engages the narrator by using the praepartio technique in the first and second paragraphs (Zimmerman 37). Poe incorporates this device to introduce the narrator's characteristics while allowing readers to identify the type of people who might live in a big city. This is represented in the story by showing the process and reasons for the ways in which some individuals may react and act due to certain fears and obsessions. Poe exemplifies the idea of terror in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by indicating what humanity is capable of. do to overcome your fears. This is conveyed through the narrator's actions and tone when expressing his sanity, although he confesses to the murder while being horrified by an old man's vulture eye. Poe's vivid and rhetorical language allows his readers to become more aware of "what's out there" allowing them to grasp the narrator's thoughts and mindset. This is revealed through the device of an ecphonesis, as it provides emotional and exclamatory phases to be shown… halfway through the paper… so that readers can begin to question the actions and behaviors of other individuals. This is brought about by the narrator who argues that even individuals who claim to be calm can still have horrible actions and motivations, which can create terror in readers. Through Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" readers are able to understand the thought process behind the narrator's motivations in wanting to kill the old man. Poe incorporates numerous linguistic devices to terrify readers of "what's out there" by describing the narrator as terribly anxious and overwhelmed, which symbolizes many individuals living in today's society. This then provides the readers with a sense of fear within them as they may wonder who they can trust as any individual can contain the urge to commit murder when put under pressure or faces a fear..
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