Compare And Contrast In The Pit And The Pendulum

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The power of time is crucial in both works, as both narrators are in a race against time to save themselves or others. In the Pit and the Pendulum, the narrator is strapped to a strange contraption, with a deadly pendulum descending towards him. The pendulum was lowering an unhurried rate as it states, " It might have been half an hour, perhaps even an hour, (for in cast my I could take but imperfect note of time) before I again cast my eyes upward. What I then saw confounded and amazed me. The sweep of the pendulum had increased in extent by nearly a yard". Each swing, the narrator was in awe by the motion of the pendulum, he explained, "I fancied that I saw it in motion. In an instant afterward the fancy was confirmed. Its sweep was brief, and of course slow"; however, he was still in fear- his mind was just fascinated by the movement of the pendulum. Not only was the pendulum stressing out the narrator, but also the wall were now closing …show more content…

His decisions have to be precise as it could possible result in death. The narrator was hopeless until he notices a group of rats, as he states, " With painful effort I outstretched my left arm as far as my bonds permitted, and took possession of the small remnant which had been spared me by the rats. As I put a portion of it within my lips, there rushed to my mind a half formed thought of joy -- of hope.” - this made the narrator want to continue living. Each swing got closer and closer, but the rodents were also making the straps disappear, as the narrator states in disgust, " they swarmed upon me in ever accumulating heaps. They writhed upon my throat; their cold lips sought my own". The narrators brilliant idea of getting the group of rats to eat through the leather that tied him down, help he get out of that torture method and release is anxiety of

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