illustration of a blade on the end of a pendulum swinging above a man's head

The Pit and the Pendulum

by Edgar Allan Poe

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Student Question

What does the statement "I might as well have attempted to arrest an avalanche" suggest about the pendulum?

Quick answer:

The statement "I might as well have attempted to arrest an avalanche" suggests that stopping the pendulum was an impossible task due to its size or weight. The comparison to an avalanche implies that the pendulum's momentum and force were too great to be halted, emphasizing its overwhelming nature. This description highlights the futility of the attempt, much like trying to stop a natural, unstoppable force like an avalanche.

Expert Answers

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The most likely answer here is "heavy" or "big."

What he's saying is that he tried to stop the pendulum from swinging.  But trying to stop it was like trying to stop an avalanche.  This clearly implies that he was completely unable to stop the pendulum.  The most likely reason why you would be unable to stop a pendulum from swinging would be that it was too big or heavy so that when you tried to stop it it just kept swinging.

I suppose you could also say that it was too slippery or smooth, but I think big or heavy is more likely.

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