Question

Read the excerpt from "The Tell-Tale Heart" below. Using complete sentences, describe how Edgar Allan Poe begins to establish a mood of terror that will continue throughout the story. In your response, use phrases and words from the excerpt to support your opinion.

I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was, opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled. Now you may think that I drew back—but no. His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness, (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers,) and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily.

Answer 1

Edgar Allan Poe establishes a mood of terror in this excerpt. The line where I would say a mood of terror was established is “ I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled.” The reason why I say this is because as the reader when I was reading the excerpt and I read the quoted line I immediately started to feel tension , especially the “as if startled.” part . How the line that I quoted will continue to establish a mood of terror that will continue throughout the excerpt is ; due to the line ”I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled”. I say this because it establishes the fear for the rest of the story .

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

I could scarcely "contain" - to keep under proper control; restrain:(Example) He could not contain his amusement.

*Note* already within the first eight words you can indicate phycotic feelings

"and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts"
(Definitions of "secret")
1. faithful or cautious in keeping confidential matters confidential; close-mouthed; reticent.
2. done, made, or conducted without the knowledge of others:secret negotiations.

Conclusion statement:
Edgar Allan. Poe is mentally psychotic, thought the whole short passage he basically supports my own theory for himself.

(Dictionary was used in the making of this answer)