purpose of the pit and the pendulum

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how did poe use imagery to define the purpose of the pit and the pendulum? what was the purpose of the pit and the pendulum? what literary terms did poe use to define the purpose of the pit and the pendulum?

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Answers

Like being trapped in a Hellish grandfather clock. Time can only be demarked by the pendulum. Rats chewing at shrouds ironc race to decompose the wraps to resurrect the victim.The pit is Poe's usual symbol of the abyss a cosmic collapse into horror. (Descent into the Maelstrom- another escape story). Remember too the evil symbolism is chosen specifically by the Inquisition for cruel irony and to strip away hope and sanity gradually. The victim knows that and gives him some awareness to keep fighting. However they seem to have that struggle possibility covered too except that at the end the man sees a way out by hurling himself on the red hot demon-faced walls. Hmmm, I think Poe wrote himself into a box with that one.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

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