In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," the mood is established through various literary techniques. Here are two specific examples that contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere of the story:
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Setting and Description: The story begins with the narrator's intense obsession and paranoia, which sets a foreboding mood. For instance, when the narrator describes the old man's "vulture-like" eye, the imagery evokes a sense of dread and unease. The repeated references to darkness and the night create a claustrophobic environment. The narrator states, “It was the beating of his own heart… it increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.” This description amplifies the tension and prepares the reader for the narrator's mental instability.
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Internal Conflict and Guilt: As the story progresses, the mood shifts from violence and obsession to horror and guilt. After the narrator commits the murder and hides the body, he is consumed by the sound of the heartbeat he believes he hears emanating from beneath the floorboards. The line, “It is the beating of his heart! It is the beating of his heart!” captures his descent into madness and heightens the horror as guilt manifests itself in a tangible, auditory form. This overwhelming sensation transforms the mood from one of cold calculation to a chilling realization of his own guilt and insanity.
These examples illustrate how Poe skillfully uses setting and the character's psychological state to create a gripping and suspenseful mood throughout "The Tell-Tale Heart."