Tell Tale Heart Suspense Examples

Poe’s use of onomatopoeia and dialogue establishes an eerie sense of suspense. Throughout the story, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” we can hear the old man’s heart go, “Thump… Thump…” With this use of onomatopoeia, and the build-up across the story, we feel a sense of apprehension when it speeds up as well as when it stops. For example, when the heart stops beating after the old man dies, it creates a sad sense of finality for this old man who did nothing wrong. However, once it starts beating again, we feel the sinking, “oh, no” feeling in our chests, which is a classic side effect of suspense. Another example of how the “Tell-Tale Heart” develops suspense is through dialogue, especially that of the ravens, the villain, and the police officers. A