The Creation of Suspense in "The Tell-Tale Heart"
By Bao Pham
Robert Burns wrote that, “Suspense is worse than disappointment,” and yet we mostly enjoy
it- the feelings of tension and anxiety, which can be found in many frightening films and
terrifying stories. However, the creation of suspense is not always straightforward. In particular,
along with a horror theme, an appropriate pace, vivid descriptions, adequate choice of words,
and lively characters are all essential elements of suspenseful literature. Edgar Allan Poe’s
skillful use of the above literary methods has made him one of the most famous writers of
dreadful stories and poems. In the short story “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Poe especially focuses on
language and literary devices to keep the reader in suspense.
By changing the pace of the story from slow to fast, the author succeeds in building up
suspenseful tension. The unnamed narrator describes the nights, he spent watching and waiting
for the perfect moment to strike, which seem endless to the reader: "It took me [the narrator] an
hour to place my whole head within the opening (19),” and “A watch’s minute’s hand moves
more quickly than did mine (29).” The cautiousness of the murderer’s motion, which slows down
the story’s tempo, not only leaves the reader in uncertainty- What is he going to do? What is
going to happen? -but also creates great tension, since the time before a crime is committed is
often terrifying to the murderer. While the killer’s waiting moments are depicted in slowness, his
actions after the murder are shown with a fast pace: he starts talking non-stop, foaming, swearing,
swinging the chair madly, and especially the story ends abruptly with his confession: “…here,
here!- it is the beating of his hideous heart! (123)” that has the reader in escalating suspense.
In addition, the story is full of imagery that gives the reader ability to feel, watch, and hear
what is happening. Trying to make the Evil Eye sound revolting, the narrator describes it as “a
pale blue eye, with a film over it (9),” which helps the reader imagine how the vulture eye has
haunted him horribly. Moreover, the setting of the murder is the old man’s room, which is “as
black as pitch with the thick darkness (34),” and soundless except the hinges’ creak, “the slight
groan of mortal terror(42),” and the beating of the old man’s heart; it reminds the reader of
horror films with suspenseful moments. Finally, portraying the murderer’s action meticulously
also helps to shape continuous tension for the story: “So I opened it[the lantern]- you cannot
imagine how stealthily, stealthily…(57)” and “I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides
(114).” Through the use of descriptive language, the author gives the reader a feeling of anxiety.
If the changing pace and the vivid descriptions of the story help create an atmosphere of
suspense and horror, then Poe uses repetition as a technique to improve their effects. Reiteration
of adjectives and adverbs, such as “I moved it slowly-very, very slowly(18)” and “It was openwide, wide open (60)” makes the tale’s tempo sound sluggish, and when it starts to quicken,
repeating words produce an urgent mood : “I foamed- I raved- I swore! (115)” and “hark! louder!
louder! louder! louder! (121)” Furthermore, descriptive words that already form a sense of fear
and anxiety for the reader are then repeated to increase the tension: “I undid the lantern
cautiously-oh, so cautiously-cautiously (21),” “It [the hellish tattoo of the heart] grew quicker
and quicker, and louder and louder every instant (70).” Repetition in this story is one of Poe’s
methods that highlight other literary devices.
Suspense is built more effectively when the author uses a first-person point-of- view to give
immediacy to the story and also to help the reader feel involved. Right at the beginning of the
story, the reader feels engaged and close to the storyteller by his question: “Why will you say
that I am mad? (1),” which is in both future and present tenses. With the pronouncement “I”, the
narrator continually stresses that he is not mad, which makes the reader feel doubtful, gives the
audience a close-up view of what is happening , and lets them feel the speaker’s nervousness,
especially when the author has the killer describe the murder. By using first- person narration,
Poe not only triggers the reader’s interest but also has them experience thrilling moments.
The building of suspense through specific language and literary devices is so firm and
efficient that “The Tell-Tale Heart” has become one of the most famous Gothic short stories in
English literature. Poe’s choice of words is known to be precise and concise, and so is his writing
style: no devices are used without having certain effects.