How Does Edgar Allan Poe Build Suspense

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In the story “Tell-Tale Heart” the author builds suspense by using his writing skills to enthuse the reader. As a matter of fact, Edgar Allan Poe uses the characters actions to build up tension in the writing.“I kept quite still and said nothing” (93). Actions show that the author is building suspense because it can cause the reader to wonder what the character actions proceed to occur. Poe also uses words in his writing to build suspense. “ It was a low, dull, quick sound-much a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton” (94). The narrator describes the scene with descriptive words which build suspense because of the way he describes the scene. “I made up my mind to take the life of the old man and thus rid myself of the eye forever”

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