1. The narrator's state of mind at the beginning of the story is one of confusion and disorientation. He struggles to make sense of his surroundings, as he finds himself in a dark and unknown place. As the story progresses, his state of mind becomes increasingly fearful and panicked, as he realizes the imminent danger he is in.
2. The story is told from a first-person point of view, which allows the reader to experience the intense fear and anxiety of the narrator directly. This perspective is particularly effective for a horror story, as it creates a sense of immediacy and personal connection with the protagonist.
3. This story can be considered a study in the horror of the unknown because the narrator is constantly faced with uncertain and terrifying circumstances. He is kept in the dark about his captor's intent and the nature of the dungeon, which amplifies his fear and anxiety.
4. The narrator explores the dungeon out of desperation to find an escape or some form of understanding about his situation. He navigates the dark and unfamiliar space in a desperate attempt to find some semblance of hope or a way to survive.
5. To calculate the distance around the dungeon, the narrator measures his steps and walks in a straight line until he makes a complete circle. However, he mistakenly assumes that his steps are equal in length and does not account for discrepancies caused by the uneven floor, throwing off his calculations.
6. When the narrator falls, he discovers that the floor of the dungeon is made of a deep, pit-like hole, which he nearly falls into. This further intensifies his fear and adds to his uncertainty about what other horrors lie in the dungeon.
7. The narrator assumes that he is to suffer some form of physical punishment due to his captivity, but he does not know the specifics until later in the story. He only knows that it is a terrifying fate that awaits him.
8. The pendulum in the story is a large, razor-sharp blade that is slowly descending from the ceiling towards the narrator's body. The movement of the pendulum becomes increasingly faster and more menacing, creating a sense of impending doom and adding to the horror of the situation.
9. The narrator's plan regarding the rats was to use the meat from his food to attract them and hopefully distract them from reaching him. However, the rats become overwhelmed by their hunger and eventually turn on him, attacking and biting him instead.
10. The last problem the narrator had to overcome was escaping the dungeon before the walls closed in on him and crushed him.
11. Both his mental and physical suffering are depicted as significant in the story. The mental suffering is evident through the narrator's constant fear and terror, while the physical suffering is shown through his wounds, injuries, and near-death experiences.
12. The final outcome of the story is that the narrator is unexpectedly saved from his imminent death by the French army, who have arrived to liberate the prisoners. He is rescued and brought to safety, ultimately surviving his horrific ordeal.
The Pit and the Pendulum
1. What is the narrator’s state of mind as the story opens? How does it change throughout the story?
2. What point of view is used and why is it particularly effective for this story?
3. In what way could this story be considered a study in the horror of the unknown?
4. Describe the narrator’s exploration of the dungeon. Why did he explore it?
5. Explain how he calculated the distance around the dungeon. What mistake did he make in his calculations?
6. What did he discover when he fell?
7. What kind of punishment did he assume he was to suffer?
8. Describe the movement of the pendulum.
9. What was his plan regarding the rats? Did it work?
10. What was the last problem to be overcome?
11. Which was greater—his mental or physical suffering?
12. Describe the final outcome
1 answer
1 answer