The Pit and the Pendulum | Techniques
Although Poe often declared that the allegory was an inferior form of fiction, he comes close to creating an allegory in "The Pit and the Pendulum." Instead of allegory, Poe favored gothic short fiction, a form that was extremely popular in the early nineteenth century in Germany. Many of Poe's stories reveal that he is familiar with such gothic fiction and is at times parodying the form. Indeed, it is sometimes difficult to determine if he is presenting a seemingly horrific story as a serious experience or as a satiric and comic one. Although "The Pit and the Pendulum" seems to fit in...
[The entire page is 224 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
Tell a friend about The Pit and the Pendulum at eNotes.
