Question

N "The Pit and the Pendulum," the narrator explains, "I proceeded for many paces; but still all was blackness and vacancy." How does Poe's inclusion of this description affect the story?

Answer 1

Answer:

Poe's description allows the narrative to be very suspenseful and provide a feeling of discomfort and displacement in the reader. In addition, Poe makes the reader realize how insecure and uncertain the narrator is about where he is located.

Explanation:

"The Pit and the Pendulum," is a short story written by Edgar Alan Poe. This is a suspense story where the narrator / protagonist is arrested by the inquisition and subjected to physical and psychological torture in a totally unknown and insecure environment.

With the line "I proceeded for many paces; but still all was blackness and vacancy," Poe reaffirms how insecure the place is, showing how the narrator is uncertain where he is from, he cannot recognize the place or even know what is inside it. This increases the suspense, the feeling of doubt and the feeling of discomfort to the reader.