A Comparison Of Tell-Tale Heart And The Monkey's Paw

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Both “Tell-Tale Heart,” by Edgar Allen Poe, and “The Monkey’s paw,” by W.W. Jacobs, contain superb examples of the elements that make up a dark tale. Even though they are quite different, the stories are analogous in the sense that they contain a similar atmosphere, conflict, and resolution. However, these takes differ in their motifs and cause of conflict. They also differ in their use of language and tone. Overall, these dark tales possess unique qualities that prove them to be, if exemplary, pieces of literature of this genre. “Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Monkey’s Paw,” share the same qualities in plot and settings. Both dark tales are obviously, dark, cold, and mysterious. The fact that they both take place in a more primitive era makes the story more suspenseful, because refuge is far away. In both of these stories, the characters suffer the consequences of making a rash decision that, in some way, involve death. The characters regret their decisions, but there is no turning back. Towards the end of both tales, the action suddenly rises, making them more suspenseful and interesting for the reader. Then they conclude with a dramatic climax, leaving the reader befuddled. . The congruence of the stories …show more content…

“The Monkey’s Paw,” contains the idea of three wishes. This gives a motif of, “Be careful what you wish for: for you don’t know what’ll bring.” On the other hand, “Tell-Tale Heart” tells us that your conscious will always get you. You will not go unpunished for all the bad deeds you commit. The conflicts faced by the protagonists in both stories revolve around death. However, the cause of the problem is diverse. In,”The Monkey’s Paw,” the Whites face a catastrophe. Their wish has killed Herbert. While in “Tell-Tale Heart,” the narrator faces his conflict in the fact that he killed the old man. These supplementary details make all dark tales one of a

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