Edgar Allan Poe 'Tell Tale Heart' and 'the fall of the house of Usher

The first 200 words of this essay...

In the first paragraph we are introduced to the main character who is also the narrator. Immediately he comes across as being mad and crazed. He claims that a disease has 'sharpened his senses' and made him healthy. This is obviously quite strange because a disease doesn't strengthen you it weakens you. He seems to be talking to himself at the beginning, which is an obvious symptom of madness. Poe uses short sentences to convey the nervous agitation shown by the murderer. 'Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing', these three short sentences suggest that the murderer is panicking and is anxious, although he tries to hide it

We then meet the old man who has the 'eye of a vulture'. The murderer fears the eye and makes it his duty to destroy it. When he sees it, it makes his 'blood run cold', this implies to the reader that he is insane as he is afraid of an eye. The eye is named the 'Evil Eye', which gives the eye a status and emphasises its vileness and vulgar appearance.

Poe uses different techniques to create a chilling atmosphere. When the murderer goes