By unveiling the narrators' malevolent thoughts, the authors heighten the horror in "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat," creating a chilling atmosphere that stems from the characters' deteriorating mental states. Here option A is correct.
In both excerpts from "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat," the narrators openly share their disturbing and malevolent thoughts, providing readers with direct access to their twisted psyches. This revelation of the inner workings of their minds intensifies the horror in the narratives.
In "The Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator's fixation on the old man's eye and the meticulous planning of the murder create a chilling atmosphere. Similarly, in "The Black Cat," the narrator's descent into evil thoughts and the mistreatment of the once-beloved cat showcase a disturbing transformation.
The horror stems not only from the actions but also from the narrators' deteriorating mental states, making their narratives more psychologically unsettling for the readers. Here option A is correct.
Complete question:
Read the excerpt from "The Tell-Tale Heart.” Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees—very gradually—I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever. Read the excerpt from "The Black Cat.” Beneath the pressure of torments such as these, the feeble remnant of the good within me succumbed. Evil thoughts became my sole intimates—the darkest and most evil of thoughts. The moodiness of my usual temper increased to hatred of all things and of all mankind; while, from the sudden, frequent, and ungovernable outbursts of a fury to which I now blindly abandoned myself, my uncomplaining wife, alas! was the most usual and the most patient of sufferers.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the impact of the narrator's revelations on the element of horror in the narratives of "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat"?
A) By revealing the narrator’s deepest thoughts, the author increases the element of horror in the narratives.
B) The narrator's revelations indicate that these characters lack human emotion, intensifying the horror.
C) The narratives provide an upbeat moment and comic relief through the narrator's thoughts.
D) The horror element relies on a reliable narrator to tell the tale.