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Pit and the Pendulum
Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allen Poe
25 posts | 87 read | 13 to read
"The Pit and the Pendulum" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1842 in the literary annual The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1843. The story is about the torments endured by a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition, though Poe skews historical facts. The narrator of the story describes his experience of being tortured. The story is especially effective at inspiring fear in the reader because of its heavy focus on the senses, such as sound, emphasizing its reality, unlike many of Poe's stories which are aided by the supernatural. The traditional elements established in popular horror tales at the time are followed, but critical reception has been mixed. The tale has been adapted to film several times. The story takes place during the Spanish Inquisition. At the beginning of the story an unnamed narrator is brought to trial before various sinister judges. Poe provides no explanation of why he is there or for what he has been arrested. Before him are seven tall white candles on a table, and, as they melt, his hopes of survival also diminish. He is condemned to death and finds himself in a pitch black compartment. At first the prisoner thinks that he is locked in a tomb, but he discovers that he is in a cell. He decides to explore the cell by placing a hem from his robe against a wall so he can count the paces around the room; however, he faints before being able to measure the whole perimeter.
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The_Book_Ninja
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Pickpick

After reading contemporary fiction I need a few gos to get into the flow and classic style of Poe. Once I lock in, it‘s so beautifully crafted and satisfying to read. Sometimes I wish we all still spoke how Poe writes. His language is just so expertly crafted and meaningful. I read this because my local cinema showed Corman‘s adaptation a week after he passed. That film only shares a title with its source but it‘s a work of art in its own right.

Bookwomble Classic! Love Poe, and Corman is so OTT! 5mo
The_Book_Ninja I didn‘t appreciate those Corman/Poe films as a kid. They were always on very late…I don‘t know if I‘m misremembering but I think they were the 2nd film in the BBCs late night double bill. My mum was cool and always let me sit up but staying awake was another thing when the horror was psychological rather than violence, monsters and mayhem. 5mo
32 likes2 comments
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Burpito
Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allen Poe
Pickpick

Sgood!

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Ididsoidid
Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allen Poe
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Pickpick

I read a few of Poe‘s short stories for Halloween and this was definitely my favourite. Poe manages to develop a lot of tension in a few short pages and a sense of mystery and foreboding. 8/10

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Eggs
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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JudeCC WOW I LOVE that cover!!!! 😱 3y
Eggs It‘s so Poe-ish! @WJCintron (edited) 3y
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Daisey
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Pickpick

I used to never really read for the seasons, but Litsy has made me more likely to choose a mystery or horror around Halloween. This year I‘m fitting in a few Edgar Allan Poe stories with Serial Reader. I think I‘ve read this one before, but I did not really remember the details at all. Definitely a creepy and appropriate story for this week.

#SerialReader #shortstory #1001books

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ConfessionofaBookaholic
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Joining the audiothon by @aperfectmjk this weekend. Kicked off with 2 hours of Conjuring of light and finished the Pit and the Pendulum on audio. Also got a couple movies, BeetleJuice and American Psycho. +66 points today for #teamharkness #scarathon2020 #screamathon #littenlisten @StayCurious

StayCurious Woot Woot! That's awesome! 4y
32 likes1 comment
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Kimberlone
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Running an event for work today at a local high school library and was pleasantly surprised by a great Halloween themed book display when I walked in. The gravestones each have a book quote. Perfect for my #graveyard post today!

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon #teamstoker
@TheReadingMermaid

eri.reads So cute!! 🖤🖤 5y
BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 5y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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AvidReader25
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Thanks to Oxford University Press for this gorgeous new edition from one of my favorite authors! Perfect timing for an October reread of a few stories.

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Rachbb3
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Pickpick

Great short story. Very descriptive, I felt like I was there with the prisoner.

#Litsyclassics
#Serialreader

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2BR02B
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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I went to see an exhibit of sci fi and fantasy artwork, and one of my favorite pieces was this pen and ink illustration by Harry Clarke, depicting a scene from Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum.

vivastory This is fantastic! 7y
LauraJ Thanks for sharing. Love this! 7y
DrJAdMerricksson That's awesome! 7y
See All 7 Comments
readordierachel Gorgeous! 7y
goodthinkrebel Whoa! That's beautiful! 7y
TricksyTails 😍 Wow! Beautiful! 7y
KVanRead So creepy/beautiful. I love it! Sounds like a cool show. 7y
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Ash.on.the.line
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Pickpick

In the 7th grade we had a Poe impersonator come and talk to our English class. This was the story he told and I didn‘t remember until I started reading this. I loved hearing him tell this and I could almost hear him as I was reading! He started my love for Poe and still it thrives today!

Ms_T Delightful! 7y
Reviewsbylola Wow, that sounds so cool! 7y
Ash.on.the.line @Reviewsbylola it was pretty cool! My English teacher was great with stuff like that! 7y
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IamIamIam
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Commemorating the 24th anniversary of the loss of Vincent Price while watching The Pit and the Pendulum and working on Zero's headstone for our #NightmareBeforeChristmas room on Friday! I love this event but I cannot WAIT until it's over! #ThisIsHalloween #EdgarAllenPoe #VincentPrice #TimBurton

diovival You have a Nightmare Before Christmas room? I'd love to see a picture when you've put everything together! 7y
IamIamIam Will do, @diovival!!! We it's going to be pretty awesome! 7y
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JuliaTheBookNerd
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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#MacrabeMonday ☠️⚰️ #HallowReads 🎃 #BookNerd 💙📚

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Dan_SpiderCrafts
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Illustration by Bernie Wrightson.

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dariazeoli
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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I got nothin'. No hammock in my yard, no swing set. So I resort to Edgar Allen Poe.

#SwingMyWay

#JuneTunz

britt_brooke Nice choice! 7y
Tnovo 😱😱 7y
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night_shift
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Pickpick

Man, the bit with the pendulum is SO nerve-wracking! Poe is freaking masterful with the dread.

#serialreader

Dan_SpiderCrafts I'd like to find where I stored by pocket book copy, with this cool eerie cover, reading with a flashlight years ago 😄 Serial Reader is a great way to get back into Poe in the dark! 8y
night_shift @AlobelThee I've got this big tome of all of his stuff, but it's so intimidating! Serial Reader helps with bite sized doses! 8y
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Anneblythe
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Don't you sometimes hate it when you can imagine things too well? 😨😨😨

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AshleyHoss820
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Pickpick

This is a short story and it shows why Poe is the father of the Gothic. I was actually nervous while reading this. Poe knows exactly how to keep you interested and exactly how to leave you wanting more. 9/1,001 #1001Books

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Maike
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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Pickpick

Book 3 for the #readathon is down. These stories were just bonkers, in a good way 😄

Simona 👍👏 8y
Gissy I'm Edgar Allan Poe fan! I am participating in the spookathon and I just chose 2 books. I'm. It a fast reader plus other complications of this adult life 😊 8y
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Crash
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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It's that time of year..... Time to break out Poe.

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beaniebankbeth
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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I teach Poe to my 8th graders in Oct, because, October, duh. This is our next story & some ridiculous part of my brain thought, wouldn't it be a hilarious idea to have a store named after this? Think of the slogans! "We'll slice the price!" and "Our prices are pit-iful!" Okay, I'll sit down now.???#teachersoflitsy #punsforDAYS

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Hahaha! Love it! The picture is reminding of the scene they did for this book in The Raven movie. 8y
beaniebankbeth @Riveted_Reader_Melissa That movie was crazy! I'm sure the makers of it drew inspiration from this earlier film take on Poe. 8y
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tasha
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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BooksTeasAndBookishThings Edgar Allan Poe is the theme we are using for our Daughter's 12 month photos this month! Pit and Pendulum is one of the featured props, too! 8y
tasha @BooksTeasAndBookishThings that's such a cute idea! I'm definitely gonna put more effort into getting some of his stories read! 8y
BooksTeasAndBookishThings Tell-tale heart will always be my favourite, but Cask of Amontillado is a close second 😊 8y
princess_dennie_pants There's a pub in Nottingham called the pit and pendulum and the bathrooms are behind a hidden door in bookshelves. 8y
tasha @dennlet that's amazing. I love literary themes locations like that! 8y
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kylienoele
The Pit and the Pendulum | Edgar Allan Poe
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I read this in high school and it has always stuck with me! #somethingforsept #shortstories #septphotochallenge

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