Pervading Moods of Fear and Terror: Edgar Allan Poe’s Short Stories

Abstract

In this study, I will analyse three stories written by Poe: ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ and ‘The Cask of Amontillado’. These three short stories are convenient for the theme of ‘fear, terror and horror’. In each story, the significance of fear and its usage can be seen. The creation of fear and terror and how they take place can be observed. My aim is to evidence what elicits fear and the protagonists’ interpretation of the events they come across. My intention is to show the air of terror in Poe’s fiction that pervades each story. I will also analyse the concept of ‘moody atmosphere’ and its usage in order to unravel the images of death and despair. Poe’s stories are full of gloomy atmospheres and images. We can also come across the feeling of pleasantness thus; the concept of ‘sublime’ takes place. On the other hand, I plan to highlight these images and their occurrence. Lastly, through this study, I will try to understand the psychologicalmood of the protagonists and the factors that make them such fearful characters. Detailed and textual information about each story is going to be given in a full chapter in terms of the explanations and usages of the factors of fear and horror and the occurrence of terror at the end. © Inter-Disciplinary Press 2011.