““The Pit and the Pendulum”The Pit and the Pendulum”

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

Contextual Setting of Contextual Setting of “The Pit and the Pendulum”“The Pit and the Pendulum”

The Spanish InquisitionThe Spanish Inquisition1478 - 18341478 - 1834

The Spanish InquisitionThe Spanish Inquisition

Spain had just suffered a civil war.Spain had just suffered a civil war.Queen Isabella came to rule with her Queen Isabella came to rule with her

husband King Ferdinand.husband King Ferdinand.Spain was comprised of 3 major religious Spain was comprised of 3 major religious

groups: Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim.groups: Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim.King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

decided to unite the country under one decided to unite the country under one religion – Catholicism.religion – Catholicism.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain

The Spanish InquisitionThe Spanish Inquisition

Spanish Jews and later Muslims were forced to Spanish Jews and later Muslims were forced to accept Christianity.accept Christianity.

Most historians agree that the motivation for the Most historians agree that the motivation for the Inquisition was greed.Inquisition was greed.

The Spanish Inquisition was halted briefly in the The Spanish Inquisition was halted briefly in the early 1800’s when Napoleon’s army invaded & early 1800’s when Napoleon’s army invaded & defeated Spain.defeated Spain.

Napoleon named his brother as Spain’s new Napoleon named his brother as Spain’s new ruler.ruler.

It lasted until 1834.It lasted until 1834.

The Spanish InquisitionThe Spanish Inquisition

Jews and Muslims were accused of Jews and Muslims were accused of converting to Christianity only to save their converting to Christianity only to save their property.property.

Anyone could accuse anyone else of Anyone could accuse anyone else of heresy.heresy.

Once they were found guilty, their property Once they were found guilty, their property was confiscated.was confiscated.

They were imprisoned, tortured, and They were imprisoned, tortured, and executed.executed.

The Spanish InquisitionThe Spanish Inquisition

Tomas de Torquemada, a Dominican priest, Tomas de Torquemada, a Dominican priest, presided over thousands of trials and about two presided over thousands of trials and about two thousand burnings at the stake.thousand burnings at the stake.

Auto –da-fe literally means “act of faith” in Auto –da-fe literally means “act of faith” in Portugese.Portugese.

Torquemada would perform this religious Torquemada would perform this religious ceremony, which consisted of a Mass and death ceremony, which consisted of a Mass and death sentence, before the executions. sentence, before the executions.

15,000 to 20,000 were tried during this time.15,000 to 20,000 were tried during this time.

““The Pit and the Pendulum”The Pit and the Pendulum”

The setting of the story is a Spanish prison The setting of the story is a Spanish prison in the 1820’s. in the 1820’s.

At the end of the story, General Lasalle At the end of the story, General Lasalle and the French army enter Toledo, a city and the French army enter Toledo, a city in Spain.in Spain.

Works CitedWorks Cited

““The Inquisition: Power, Greed, and Suffering.” The Inquisition: Power, Greed, and Suffering.” Elements of LiteratureElements of Literature. Orlando: Holt, Rhinehart, . Orlando: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, 2008.and Winston, 2008.

NALLE, SARA TILGHMAN. "NALLE, SARA TILGHMAN. "Inquisition, Spanish." ." Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern WorldEarly Modern World. The Gale Group Inc. 2004. . The Gale Group Inc. 2004. Encyclopedia.com.Encyclopedia.com. 31 Mar. 2009 < 31 Mar. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. >.

“The Pit and the Pendulum”Literary Elements

Point of View

• 1st Person Narrative

• Nameless Prisoner

Conflict

• Protagonist• Nameless Prisoner

• Antagonists• His Insanity

(Inner Conflict)• His Tormentors

(External Conflict)

Themes

• Untimely Death• Isolation• Torture• Survival

(Will to Live Vs. Desire to Die)

• Fear• Loss of Time• Persecution

Genres

• Fiction

• Horror

• Gothic – Supernatural horrors and atmosphere of unknown terror; extreme

emotions (anger, fear, surprise, etc.)

• Poe is given credit for being the father of the detective story.

Style

• Use of Latin & French

• Minimal use of characterization, plot, and atmosphere

• Interest in what happens to people rather than the individual

• Continually uses a male protagonist

• Famous for use of suspense

Symbols

• Pit - Hell

• Pendulum - Slow, approaching death; time ticking down

• Father Time – Zeus’ father, Cronus, controller of time

• Darkness – the unknown, ignorance

• Rats – a potential problem turned positive

• Unseen Tormentors – Personal “demons”