This was my first introduction to Poe's writing. I can honestly say the only thing I knew about poe is that his writings would be dark, and I was anxious about reading them, but I strapped my Honors Lit. boots on and trudged on ahead. I loved the Pit and Pendulum, and it was my first work of Poe to read.
My favorite line in this story was, "For the moment, at least, I was free". Through everything this victim of the the Spanish Inquistion has suffered through he was finally free! Then it gets worse for him, something more terrible awaits him.
This is something everyone can relate to in life, even though not everyone has had such torturous events happen, they've experienced that feeling. I know I have. The moment when you think you've won the battle, and then the real war is just about to start.
Poe seemed to capture this struggle all humans face and he presents it in a way that frightens us. He plays on emotions through humans worst fears, the unknown that will bring death. Poe knows what similar experiences, thoughts, and fears humans share, and he uses that. I think that's what I enjoyed the most when reading his writing, the fact that he knows what scares us. He knows how to relate to the readers darkest fears and desperations.
On a side note, my friends enjoyed watching me read this. They took many opportunities to scare me when they could tell(by my facial expressions) that I was getting into the story. Several times I jumped either because of maniacal, malicious laughter broke out from behind me, or someone banged on the table. (Also listening to love songs while reading Edgar Allen Poe, is a very strange mix)
P.S. Commented on Tori Burger's post
I also love poe and can remember my 6th grade year when my class first studied his work and loved it! Living so close to Philadelphia I also got to visit his house there and see the environment he lived in. I agree that he very eloquently describes human struggles, but what I think makes it so interesting to people is the horror and suspense behind the tales. They are the best ghost stories of all because not only are the events scary, but also the internal struggle Poe's characters have in his stories.
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