A graphical display-based comparison of two short stories by Poe - some of the placements of the statements in the venn diagram are purposefully contentious to encourage debate!

1. Cf.

4. Where should each of the following statements be placed in the Venn diagram? How does each statement relate to the tension in the stories?

5. The narrator is haunted by his deviant action

6. The narrator is haunted by his deviant action

7. The narrator is self-congratulatory

8. The narrator is self-congratulatory

9. The narrator is facing execution for his crimes

10. The narrator is facing execution for his crimes

11. The text continually builds in tension until its climax

12. The text continually builds in tension until its climax

13. The events of the story that are narrated, cover several years

14. The events of the story that are narrated, cover several years

15. The story explores the consequences of allowing the ‘imp of the perverse’ to gain control

16. The story explores the consequences of allowing the ‘imp of the perverse’ to gain control

17. The narrator blames alcohol for his actions

18. The narrator blames alcohol for his actions

19. The narrator is unreliable and questionably sane

20. The narrator is unreliable and questionably sane

21. The eye is a significant symbol in the story

22. The eye is a significant symbol in the story

23. It is unclear whether the narrator’s own sense of guilt has led to his downfall or if a supernatural event has taken place

24. It is unclear whether the narrator’s own sense of guilt has led to his downfall or if a supernatural event has taken place

25. The cruelty of the narrator is emphasized

26. The cruelty of the narrator is emphasized

27. Anaphora is used to build tension in the text

28. Anaphora is used to build tension in the text

29. Poe has used light and darkness to control the focus of the story

30. Poe has used light and darkness to control the focus of the story

31. The story has moments of dark humour

32. The story has moments of dark humour

33. The narrator claims to suffer from an illness that makes the senses more acute

34. The narrator claims to suffer from an illness that makes the senses more acute

35. There is something morally satisfying about the story’s ending

36. There is something morally satisfying about the story’s ending

37. The text has more than one phase in the build up of tension

38. The text has more than one phase in the build up of tension

39. The narrator’s motives for committing his crimes are unclear

40. The narrator’s motives for committing his crimes are unclear

41. Poe uses silence and stillness to build tension

42. Poe uses silence and stillness to build tension

43. Examine the ways in which Edgar Allan Poe establishes and sustains tension in two short stories you have read

44. Compare and contrast the ways in which Edgar Allan Poe establishes and sustains tension in two short stories you have read

46. An essay is basically a stack of burgers – A stack of ideas, supported by evidence from the text and analysis that directly answers the question set