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How does Poe’s use of Figurative Language in ""The Tell-Tale Heart"" create suspense and horror in the story?

A) By using vivid imagery to describe the setting.
B) By using similes and metaphors to evoke strong emotions.
C) By employing irony and hyperbole to heighten tension.
D) By using personification and alliteration to create a sense of unease.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Edgar Allan Poe's use of figurative language in "The Tell-Tale Heart" enhances suspense and horror through vivid imagery, similes, metaphors, irony, hyperbole, personification, and alliteration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Edgar Allan Poe's use of figurative language in "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a masterful technique that serves to create suspense and horror. For instance, Poe employs vivid imagery to describe the setting, giving readers a palpable sense of the dark and foreboding environment in which the story unfolds. This choice aligns with option A that highlights the role of vivid imagery in establishing the story's atmosphere. Furthermore, using similes and metaphors Poe evokes strong emotions, as seen in option B, which contribute to the reader's intense experience. Option C's mention of irony and hyperbole also applies, as they are used to exaggerate circumstances and heighten the feeling of tension throughout the tale.

Lastly, the use of personification and alliteration as noted in option D, creates an eerie cadence and gives life to inanimate objects, contributing to the overarching sense of unease. All these elements work in concert to immerse the reader in the narrative, making them feel the terror that grips the protagonist, thereby demonstrating the power of figurative language to convey emotion and build an impactful narrative.

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