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Read this passage from "The Tell-Tale Heart": I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me the sound would be heard by a neighbour! The old man's hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length it ceased. The old man was dead. What does Poe use to speed up the pacing and increase the tension in the passage?

User Zzeroo
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Final answer:

Edgar Allan Poe increases pacing and tension in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' through the use of short sentences, punctuation, and repetition, creating a fast-paced, suspenseful atmosphere.

Step-by-step explanation:

In "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, the pacing and tension are increased through the use of short sentences, punctuation, and repetition. Short sentences contribute to a feeling of urgency and breathlessness, as if events are happening rapidly. Exclamation points and italics are used to emphasize the narrator's extreme emotion and increasing insanity, heightening the reader's anxiety and engagement. The repetition of certain phrases and sounds, like the beating of the old man's heart, creates a rhythmic and suspenseful buildup to the climax of the story.

6 votes
he does that to show more expression in his stories. it is what all or most writers do to grab the readers attention. a writer doesn't want their readers to fall asleep and then get a bad review. if Edgar gets more and more anxiety in his story it will keep you wondering.
User ViramP
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