Edgar Allan Poe was the author of many poems and short stories written in the 19th century and was famous as a master of well-crafted tales of horror and mystery. One example of Poe's skill is the classic tale The Tell-Tale Heart (1843), narrated by a terrified and unstable man obsessed with his elderly neighbor's frightening appearance. As the story progresses, the poor fellow becomes so distraught that he finally murders the old man to relieve his fear.
The narrator opens the narrative by addressing the reader, insisting that he is perfectly sane. After all, would a madman plan a task so carefully? Would a madman be calm enough to hide the body so cleverly? His very insistence is the clue to reveal his unhinged state of mind, making the reader approach the telling of the tale already expecting a wild turn of events. Let's take a look at how Poe cleverly uses imagery and symbolism to make the narrative come alive.
