Edgar Allan Poe used the Literary Device of setting to create a dark, threatening tone in his short story, “Tell-Tale Heart”. He used the elements of Mood & Atmosphere, Time of Day, and Local which fall under the literary device of setting.
First, he used the element of mood and atmosphere. Poe spelled words like “dreadfully” to make clear that he was very nervous {537:1}. On {539:1} the old man jumped out of the bed which creates tension. It creates the feeling of the old man being scared, and that makes the readers be frightened too. Edgar describes the setting as the room being pitch dark because it was at night and the mad man had brought a lantern that he covered with black which did not give the old man enough light to see. The person who was carrying the lantern could see old man but the old man could not see who was behind the lantern. That scene creates the suspension for the readers and it makes them have a spooky feeling about the story {538:3}.
Also, Edgar used the setting element of time of day. He states that every morning when the day broke, the crazy man would go to the old man and talk to him {538:3}. Every night the mad man went to the old man’s bedroom {538:1}. Poe specifically says that the killer would go the bedroom at midnight {538:1}. Midnight is the witching hour. The author choose that time because it is thought that at that time creatures and ghosts could go into your bedroom.
First, he used the element of mood and atmosphere. Poe spelled words like “dreadfully” to make clear that he was very nervous {537:1}. On {539:1} the old man jumped out of the bed which creates tension. It creates the feeling of the old man being scared, and that makes the readers be frightened too. Edgar describes the setting as the room being pitch dark because it was at night and the mad man had brought a lantern that he covered with black which did not give the old man enough light to see. The person who was carrying the lantern could see old man but the old man could not see who was behind the lantern. That scene creates the suspension for the readers and it makes them have a spooky feeling about the story {538:3}.
Also, Edgar used the setting element of time of day. He states that every morning when the day broke, the crazy man would go to the old man and talk to him {538:3}. Every night the mad man went to the old man’s bedroom {538:1}. Poe specifically says that the killer would go the bedroom at midnight {538:1}. Midnight is the witching hour. The author choose that time because it is thought that at that time creatures and ghosts could go into your bedroom.