The Use Of Vocabulary In Edgar Allan Poe's Works

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Many of Edgar Allan Poe’s works have been known to be memorable to the reader. Two of Edgar Allan Poe’s works, “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado” are fine examples of Poe’s memorable works. These two short stories are packed with bountiful information that it becomes easy for the reader to retain the information being read. Edgar Allan Poe’s use of vocabulary, imagery, and point of view help the reader see the event in their head making the stories come alive for the reader. Poe’s use of vocabulary helped his short stories become more memorable to the reader. For instance, in “The Tell-Tale Heart”, the narrator implies, “…I proceeded- with what caution- with what foresight- with what dissimulation...” (“The Tell-Tale Heart”…show more content…
In “The Tell-Tale Heart” and in “The Cask of the Amontillado”, Poe shows how his imagery can impact the reader. For example, in “The Tell-Tale Heart”, the narrator arrays, “He had the eye of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it” (“The Tell-Tale Heart” 1). The reader can actually picture what the narrator sees as if the reader were there with the narrator. The narrator alludes, “His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness (for the shutters were closed fastened, through fear of robbers)…” (“The Tell-Tale Heart” 2). The reader is able to see and picture what the narrator is seeing keeping the reader captivated. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, the narrator says, “The man wore motley. He had on tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells” (“The Cask of Amontillado” 1). The reader could actually see how Montresor looked like the way he depicted himself keeping the reader intrigued. Then, the narrator once more insinuates, “I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed” (“The Cask of Amontillado” 2). The narrator could have said “hey Fortunato we are in a cave”, instead the narrator carefully chooses to describe the scene in detail to keep the reader amused. Both short stories use imagery to their advantage in order for them to become memorable to the…show more content…
Both these short stories are told in first person, making them more likely to become memorable to the reader. For instance, in the “The Cask of Amontillado” the narrator asserts, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” (“The Cask of Amontillado” 1). The reader is able to learn more about the narrator and what the narrator is thinking, making him a memorable character to the reader. Once more, the narrator posits, “I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in great measure worn off” (“The Cask of Amontillado” 5). The reader is given an insight of what the narrator is thinking or what the narrator is thinking, making him a memorable person. In “The Tell-Tale Heart” the narrator posits, “The disease had sharpened my senses…” “Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers…” (“The Tell-Tale Heart” 1). The reader is able to find out what the narrator is thinking or feeling in order to make him a memorable character. Then, the narrator says, “I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye- not even his- could have detected anything wrong” (“The Tell-Tale Heart” 3). The reader learns more about the narrator and can see that there is something mentally wrong with the narrator.

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